At a Glance
- The 2026 U.S. Winter Olympic roster could top the 2018 record of 21 athletes of Black or Asian descent
- Most of the eight or nine women expected to compete for USA Bobsled and Skeleton in Milan Cortina will likely be women of color
- Top medal hopes include reigning world monobob champion Kaysha Love and five-time Olympic medalist Elana Meyers Taylor
- Why it matters: Increased representation challenges Winter Games norms and widens pathways for future athletes of color
The next U.S. Winter Olympic team is shaping up to break diversity records, driven by a bobsled and skeleton contingent that may field more women of color than ever before.
When USA Bobsled and Skeleton finalizes its roster for the Milan Cortina Games, either eight or nine women are projected to make the team, and the majority are expected to be women of color. Should the trend hold across other sports, the 2026 delegation could eclipse the 21 Black or Asian American athletes who competed for the U.S. in 2018-about 8 percent of that year’s total team.
A “Surreal” Shift on the Ice
“We’re really doing this,” U.S. skeleton athlete Mystique Ro, who is Black and Korean, told Emily Carter Reynolds. Ro teamed with Austin Florian to win last season’s world championship in skeleton’s mixed event. “The train has left the station. We’re going. And it’s such a surreal feeling. … We’re really making history out here and it’s not slowing down at all.”
Ro’s excitement reflects broader momentum inside the federation. While European powers-and the U.S.-have long fielded predominantly white squads, the upcoming Games could feature Black women among the nation’s top medal threats, particularly in bobsled.
Veteran Leadership and New Firsts
- Elana Meyers Taylor, a five-time Olympic medalist, is already the most decorated Black athlete in Winter Games history
- Kaysha Love captured the world monobob title, becoming the first Black woman to achieve that feat
- Erin Jackson, speedskater who became the first Black woman to win individual Winter Olympic gold in 2022, will defend her title
- Laila Edwards will be the first Black woman to skate for the powerhouse U.S. women’s hockey team
“It’s a really big deal,” Edwards said at the roster announcement. “Representation matters. In terms of processing it, I think I’m just trying to use it as something that motivates me to be the best role model and person I can be.”
Obstacles Beyond the Podium
Despite the impending milestones, athletes note that Winter Olympic sports still offer limited opportunities for people of color. The National Ski Areas Association reported in 2024 that only about 1 percent of U.S. ski-resort guests identify as Black. Cost, remote venues, and equipment expenses remain primary hurdles.
Of roughly 2,900 athletes who competed at the Beijing Winter Games, the majority identified as white. Nonetheless, non-traditional nations such as Ghana, Nigeria, and Haiti qualified athletes, and Jamaica’s bobsled tradition-sparked by the legendary “Cool Runnings” team-continues to resonate.
“I never thought I would be doing this,” Jamaican bobsledder Adanna Johnson, who competed at age 17 in last year’s world championships, told Emily Carter Reynolds. “The sport is growing. There are more opportunities.”
Visibility Beyond the Olympics
Ro argues the push for inclusion cannot be confined to Olympic years. “There’s a lot more diversity,” she said. “But seeing us without the helmet, seeing the roster, seeing the names, it’s just really important how we present it to the people so it’s not just at the Olympics. It has to be every year because we compete every year.”
Many sliders reach elite levels after recruiters spot them in track and field, valuing bobsled’s demand for explosive speed and power. Vonetta Flowers, the first Black woman to win Olympic bobsled gold, started as a track athlete before teaming with Jill Bakken for victory at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games. Since then, women of color have steadily climbed Olympic podiums in the discipline.
Inspiration Across Generations
Meyers Taylor, an elite college softball player before switching to bobsled, cites Flowers as a key inspiration. The same path drew Love, a record-setting high-school sprinter who accepted an invitation to try bobsled after her career at UNLV. She is set to become a two-time Olympian.
“Growing up, I was really only excited about summer sports because that’s where I saw me. That’s where I saw representation,” Love said. “You always had Black athletes in gymnastics and track and even swimming sometimes. So, to know that now I get to be that representation along with some of my other teammates who have worked so hard to be a part of this … that change is inspiring.”
Key Takeaways
- Historic potential: The 2026 U.S. roster could exceed previous diversity records set in 2018
- Star power: Veterans like Meyers Taylor and rising stars such as Love and Edwards headline medal hopes
- Challenges remain: High costs and limited access still curb broader participation in Winter disciplines
- Visibility push: Athletes emphasize year-round exposure, not just Olympic-cycle attention
- Generational impact: Representation fuels recruitment and inspires younger athletes to enter non-traditional sports
