U.S. Olympic Winter Team Set for Diversity Boost in 2026

LAKE PLACID, N.Y. — As preparations for the Milan Cortina Winter Games in 2026 continue, the USA Bobsled and Skeleton federation is on track to field one of its most diverse Olympic teams yet. Anticipations suggest that either eight or nine women will represent the U.S. in bobsled, with most likely being women of color. This year’s roster could surpass the 2018 Olympic team, which featured 21 athletes of Black or Asian descent, making up roughly 8% of the total participants.

The changes reflect a positive trajectory towards inclusivity in a sports arena traditionally dominated by white athletes. “We’re really doing this,” said Mystique Ro, a U.S. skeleton athlete of Black and Korean descent. Ro, a world champion in the mixed event, expressed excitement about the progress being made, stating, “The train has left the station. We’re going. And it’s such a surreal feeling.”

While diversity is growing within the U.S. Olympic team, the broader landscape of winter sports remains predominantly white. Many leading nations, particularly in Europe, continue to feature largely homogenous teams. Yet, some of the most promising medal contenders for the U.S. in 2026 include notable Black women athletes.

Elana Meyers Taylor, a five-time Olympic medalist, stands as the most decorated Black athlete in Winter Games history. Additionally, Kaysha Love has made headlines as the reigning world champion in monobob, becoming the first Black woman to hold that title. Erin Jackson, who made history in 2022 as the first Black woman to win a gold medal in an individual winter sport, is also poised to compete again.

The representation of women of color in sports like bobsled has historical significance. Laila Edwards, a rising star on the U.S. women’s hockey team, will be the first Black woman to don the American jersey at the Olympics. “It’s a really big deal,” Edwards remarked when the roster was announced. “Representation matters. 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.”

Despite these advancements, challenges remain. The National Ski Areas Association reported in 2024 that only around 1% of visitors to U.S. ski resorts identify as Black, highlighting barriers of cost and accessibility that continue to hinder broader participation in winter sports.

At the last Winter Olympics in 2022, more than 2,900 athletes competed, with the vast majority identifying as white. Limited visibility of athletes from non-traditional winter nations like Ghana, Nigeria, and Haiti also underscores the ongoing disparities in representation.

Bobsledder Adanna Johnson, who competed for Jamaica at last year’s world championships, noted the growth of the sport. “The sport is growing. There are more opportunities,” she said, reflecting a growing sentiment within the community.

Ro emphasized that maintaining momentum in diversity should not be confined to the Olympic spotlight. “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 athletes who have reached national teams in bobsled were recruited from other sports, particularly track and field, which showcases the need for interdisciplinary talent in this high-speed sport. The trailblazing Vonetta Flowers was the first Black woman to win a bobsled medal for the U.S., claiming gold with teammate Jill Bakken at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games. Since then, women of color have consistently found their way to the medal podium.

Meyers Taylor, a former elite softball player, cites Flowers as a significant inspiration. Love, who transitioned from a record-setting high school sprinter to bobsled, also acknowledged the importance of representation in sports. “Growing up, I was really only excited about summer sports because that’s where I saw me,” she said. “You always had Black athletes in gymnastics and track. 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.”

As the countdown to the 2026 Winter Olympics progresses, the growing diversity of the U.S. Olympic team not only reflects changing demographics but also highlights a shift in the cultural landscape of winter sports, paving the way for future generations of athletes from all backgrounds.