2026 WINTER OLYMPICS - BLACK HISTORY MONTH FULL BREAKDOWN - 116 EVENTS & 16 SPORTS...
Includes traditional events like skiing & figure skating to ski mountaineering - a new olympic sport
24 Events Featuring Black U.S. Athletes - Opening Ceremony February 6, 2026 through Closing Ceremony February 22, 2026 in Milan-Cortina, Italy. The graphic above represents a combined number of medal events where notable athletes, Black U.S. athletes and African-descent athletes may appear in 2026 - across various winter olympic sports.
Noted individuals include:
- Elana Meyers Taylor – Bobsled pilot & monobob Confirmed
- Sylvia Hoffman – Bobsled brakeman Likely – World Cup roster
- Jasmine Jones – Bobsled brakeman Confirmed
- Hakeem Abdul-Saboor – 4-man bobsled Likely – World Cup roster
- Nic Taylor – 4-man bobsled Awaiting Nomination
- Nick Miles – 4-man bobsled Awaiting Nomination
- Kelly Curtis – Skeleton Confirmed
- Jon Singletary – Bobsled push athlete (development program) Not Official Yet
- Jordan Greenway – Ice hockey Confirmed
- Erin Jackson – Speed skating Confirmed
- Brittany Bowe – Speed skating Confirmed
Mystique Ro - Skeleton - Confirmed
The list of confirmed U.S. Bobsled Team Members & Skeleton (USABS) Roster has been officially published (nbcolympics.com) for the 2026 Winter Olympics. These athletes are confirmed competitors based on selection criteria, world cup results, and USABS announcements: Elana Meyers Taylor – Bobsled pilot (veteran and multi-Olympic medalist) Jasmine Jones – Brakeman (women’s team) Azaria Hill – Brakeman (women’s team) Kaysha Love – Pilot (world monobob champion) Kaillie Humphries – Pilot (multi-medalist) Jadin O’Brien – Brakeman Frank Del Duca – Men’s pilot Kris Horn – Men’s pilot Josh Williamson, Boone Niederhofer, Bryan Sosoo, Carsten Vissering, Hunter Powell, Caleb Furnell – Push athletes Others as per team build-up for two U.S. sleds.
Other Black / African Descent Athletes Expected to Compete in 2026 Winter Olympics - including Alpine Skiing events (Rivers Triplets - Jamaica)...
| Helaina Rivers | - Alpine Skiing | - JAM | Pursuing qualification |
| Henri IV Rivers | - Alpine Skiing | - JAM | Pursuing qualification |
| Henniyah Rivers - | Alpine Skiing | - JAM | Pursuing qualification |
Black History Month is February 2026 and ironically the
U.S. is sending one of its most diverse and dynamic group of Black and
African-descent athletes to the 2026 Winter Olympics. It will be held primarily in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo in Northern Italy.
The Opening Ceremony of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympic Games is Feb. 6, 2026, on NBC and Peacock.
NBC Olympics will provide coverage of the XXV Olympic Winter Games on CNBC and USA Network. Olympics.com offers free clips of highlights, interviews and live updates. Local NBC stations offer free over-the-air viewing.
Streaming services like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, and DirecTV Stream often have free trial periods that include NBC, USA, and CNBC and allow you to stream the Olympics live for short periods at no cost.
HOW TO WATCH: 2026 Milan Cortina Olympic Viewing Schedule - Trials Coverage Begins Wed, Feb 4, 2026
5:30 AM (ET) Alpine Skiing Men's Downhill Training
Week 1 - Opening Week (Feb 6 - 9, 2026)
- Opening Ceremony
- First Rounds: Speed Skating, Figure Skating, Ski Jumping
- Team USA Early Events
Week 2 - Championship Events Begin (Feb 10 - 16, 2026)
- Figure Skating Medals
- Alpine Skiing Finals
- Snowboarding Halfpipe & Slopestyle
- Speed Skating 500m/1000m
Week 3 - Final Events & Closing Ceremony (Feb 17 - 22, 2026)
- Hockey & Curling Finals
- Bobsled & Skeleton
- Final Figure Skating
- Closing Ceremony
13 different venues will be used during the Games...
1. Milan Cluster - hosting the opening ceremony, ice hockey, speed skating and figure skating
2. Cortina d'Ampezzo Cluster - hosting Aline skiing, biathlon, curling, bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton
3. Valtellina Cluster - hosting Alpine skiing, ski mountaineering, snowboarding, and freestyle skiing
4. Val di Fiemme Cluster - hosting ski jumping, and Nordic combined
5. Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium - hosting cross-country skiing and nordic combined
1. Milan Cluster - hosting the opening ceremony, ice hockey, speed skating and figure skating
2. Cortina d'Ampezzo Cluster - hosting Aline skiing, biathlon, curling, bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton
3. Valtellina Cluster - hosting Alpine skiing, ski mountaineering, snowboarding, and freestyle skiing
4. Val di Fiemme Cluster - hosting ski jumping, and Nordic combined
5. Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium - hosting cross-country skiing and nordic combined
6. Verona Olympic Arena - hosting the closing ceremony (and Paralympic Opening Ceremony)..
Check-out The Olympic Venues (with video details) -
Brief Profile of Notable Athletes, Black American Athletes and African-Descent Athletes to Watch - Winter Olympics 2026
1. Erin Jackson - Long Track Speedskating
Age: 33
Hometown: Ocala, Florida
Education: Studied Materials Science Engineering, University of Florida; Historic 2022 Olympic Gold Medalist in 500m; and first Black woman to win Olympic speedskating gold. Entering 2026 as a top contender in the 500m & 1000m.
Age: 33
Hometown: Ocala, Florida
Education: Studied Materials Science Engineering, University of Florida; Historic 2022 Olympic Gold Medalist in 500m; and first Black woman to win Olympic speedskating gold. Entering 2026 as a top contender in the 500m & 1000m.
Erin Jackson has spoken about her role as a model for young Blacks wanting to pursue their dreams in winter sports. She also expressed excitement and pressure about defending her title in 2026 - and embraces that visibility.
2. Elana Meyers Taylor - Bobsled
Age: 41
Hometown: Douglasville, Georgia
Education: George Washington University (Softball star)
Road to 2026: 4-time Olympic Medalist; Returning potentially for a final Olympic run in 2-woman bobsledy after giving birth between Olympics.
3. Sylvia Hoffman — Bobsled
Age: 35
Hometown: Arlington, Texas
Background: All-American volleyball player, USA Weightlifting
Road to 2026: 2022 Olympian in Women’s Monobob
Story: Got into the sport through the “Next Olympic Hopeful” scouting program
4. Hakeem Abdul-Saboor — Bobsled
Age: 38
Hometown: Virginia
Profession: Chiropractor, former bodybuilder
Veteran Olympian likely returning.
5. Brittany Bowe - 500m, 1000m, 1500m (Not Black - Often Paired in Media with Erin Jackson)*
Age: 37
Hometown: Ocala, Florida
Sport: Long-Track Speed Skating
Team USA: 2010 - Present
Tokyo + Beijing Olympian - she earned a bronze medal in the 1000 meters at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics; World Champion, multiple-time World Cup winner, and one of Team USA’s most consistent medal threats in sprints and middle-distance events.
*Comments - Recognized for giving up her 500m spot to Erin Jackson in 2022 when Erin Jackson slipped in the U.S. trials and lost her automatic spot in the Olympics. Brittany Bowe gave up her own 500m slot so Jackson could compete.
6. Laila Edwards - Ice Hockey (U.S. Women’s Team) - Defender on Team USA - Confirmed
Age: 21 Hometown: Cleveland Heights, Ohio,
Heritage: African-American; First Black woman named to the U.S. women’s Olympic hockey team for 2026. A major milestone in U.S. hockey history.
7. Frankie Del Duca - Bobsled (Afro-Latino heritage)
Age: 32
Hometown: Maine
Road to 2026: competed in 2022; known for strong push starts & U.S. Army WCAP athlete - represents both military and athletic excellence.
8. Kelsey Stewart - Bobsled
Age: 28
Hometown: New Jersey
Background: Sprinter, national-level track athlete
Road to 2026: Expected to compete as a brakeman.
9. Maame Biney - Short Track Speedskating
Age: 24
Birthplace: Accra, Ghana
Raised: Reston, Virginia
Education: University of Utah
Road to 2026: Two-time Olympian (2018, 2022); known for explosive starts and fearless cornering
Story: The first Black woman to make a U.S. Olympic speedskating team.
10. Andrew Blaser - Skeleton (Black heritage via maternal family)
Age: 35
Hometown: Boise, Idaho
Education: University of Idaho
Story:
Former track athlete and U.S. skeleton athlete at the
Olympics (2022). Blaser is noted for his LGBTQ+ representations in winter sports who has not been officially named on the 2026 skelton roster.
11. Seth Jones - Defense NHL Prospects (Possible U.S. Roster Adds for 2026 Ice Hockey) - Confirmed
Age: 31
Hometown: Arlington, TX
Veteran defenseman for the Florida Panthers, has been officially named to the U.S. Men’s Hockey Roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina. He is a NHL All-Star and top defensive player for Team USA.
12. Starr Andrews - Figure Skating (Prospects) Not Named - Finished 7th in St. Louis
Age: 23
Hometown: Los Angeles
| First Black U.S. woman to win a Grand Prix medal (2022) |
Starr Andrews has not yet been officially named to the 2026 U.S. Olympic Figure Skating Team, but qualified and competed at the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
ATHLETES OF AFRICAN DESCENT REPRESENTING OTHER COUNTRIES
Samuel Ikpefan - Cross-Country Skiing (Nigeria) - French-born sprinter who represents Nigeria; and 2nd Olympic cycle
Akwasi Frimpong - Skeleton (Ghana) - Former sprinter; one of Africa’s biggest Winter Olympics ambassadors.
Jamaica Bobsled Team - Always fan favorites; multiple athletes of African descent competing again.
Upcomimg Junior Figure Skaters - Anaelle Kouevi & Yann Homawoo, a U.S. junior ice dance team (cousins) who train in Leesburg, Virginia. Made their international debut for the U.S. at Junior Grand Prix in 2025 and nationally at 2026 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships (Junior) in St. Louis - placing 5th in junior ice dance overall and 4th in 2026 U.S. Ice Dance Final
Hope to See Them and Others in 2030 Winter Olympics...!
Interested parents may want to check-out the YouTube video - "Diversify Ice breaks barriers in representation for figure skaters of color | NBC4 Washington" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7dbsvlQlik
Contact Info:
Diversify Ice Fellowship and Foundation
PO Box 98
Mount Rainier, Maryland 20712
Phone: 305-778-1632
Email: info@diversifyice.org
Black History Spotlight - Watch "Black Ice" | See the Official Trailer -
Black Ice Streaming Free on The Roku Channel
with ads or stream the title free on Plex,
Plex Player, Plex Channel, or Fawesome
Introduced in AMC Theaters on July 14, 2023 by RoadsideFlix. It is an award-winning documentary that exposes the history of racism in hockey through the untold stories of Black hockey players.
Directed by Hubert Davis with executive producers LeBron James, Aubrey “Drake” Graham, Maverick Carter and Adel “Future” Nura. The film explores the roots of the game, dating back to 1865 and the Colored Hockey League to the game of hockey today.
References
Winter Olympics date
https://news.bet365.com/en-gb/article/winter-olympics-host-date-venues-events/2025012909425412780
https://news.bet365.com/en-gb/article/winter-olympics-host-date-venues-events/2025012909425412780
Snoop Dogg Returns to NBCUniversal’s Olympic Coverage for Milan Cortina 2026 -
https://www.nbcuniversal.com/article/snoop-dogg-returns-nbcuniversals-olympic-coverage-milan-cortina-2026
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