Meet the Black Women Representing Team USA at Milano Cortina 2026
Learn more about the elite Black athletes who will be writing the next chapter on snow and ice for Team USA.
Laila Edwards
Laila Edwards is a trailblazer in U.S. women’s hockey, becoming the first Black woman to play for the U.S. women’s national team and the first to be named to a U.S. Olympic roster. In 2024, Edwards was named MVP at the IIHF Women’s World Championship, making her the youngest American ever to earn the honor. Currently a senior at the University of Wisconsin, Edwards has won two national championships with the Badgers.
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“It’s a really big deal,” Edwards said when the roster was unveiled. “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.”
Erin Jackson
Erin Jackson made history at the 2022 Winter Olympics, becoming the first Black woman to win an individual gold medal at the Winter Games with her victory in the women’s 500-meter speed skating event. Jackson took an unconventional path to the podium, transitioning from a 15-year career in inline skating to ice speed skating in 2017. After making the switch, she rose rapidly to the top of the sport, qualifying for the 2018 Winter Olympics. Since her 24th-place finish at the PyeongChang Games, Jackson has set six national records (including five in the last four years), earned 28 World Cup medals (16 gold), claimed five national titles, and skated to her 2022 Olympic gold.
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“Representation is really important,” Jackson said. “It helps to see someone like you doing something that you might not previously have thought of doing. I hope to be the face that others look to and think, ‘Let’s try a new sport.’ The more people we have, the better to keep the dominoes falling.”
Laila Edwards
Laila Edwards is a trailblazer in U.S. women’s hockey, becoming the first Black woman to play for the U.S. women’s national team and the first to be named to a U.S. Olympic roster. In 2024, Edwards was named MVP at the IIHF Women’s World Championship, making her the youngest American ever to earn the honor. Currently a senior at the University of Wisconsin, Edwards has won two national championships with the Badgers.
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“It’s a really big deal,” Edwards said when the roster was unveiled. “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.”
Erin Jackson
Erin Jackson made history at the 2022 Winter Olympics, becoming the first Black woman to win an individual gold medal at the Winter Games with her victory in the women’s 500-meter speed skating event. Jackson took an unconventional path to the podium, transitioning from a 15-year career in inline skating to ice speed skating in 2017. After making the switch, she rose rapidly to the top of the sport, qualifying for the 2018 Winter Olympics. Since her 24th-place finish at the PyeongChang Games, Jackson has set six national records (including five in the last four years), earned 28 World Cup medals (16 gold), claimed five national titles, and skated to her 2022 Olympic gold.
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“Representation is really important,” Jackson said. “It helps to see someone like you doing something that you might not previously have thought of doing. I hope to be the face that others look to and think, ‘Let’s try a new sport.’ The more people we have, the better to keep the dominoes falling.”
Elana Meyers Taylor
Elana Meyers Taylor is a five-time Olympic medalist and four-time world champion – the most decorated Black Winter Olympian of all time – and a mother of two who continues to compete at the sport’s highest level. Heading into the Milan Cortina Games, Meyers Taylor will be chasing her first Olympic gold after earning three silver and two bronze medals across four previous Olympics, finishing on the podium in every race of her Olympic career.
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“We want everybody to come out regardless of the color of your skin. We want winter sports to be for everybody, regardless of race, regardless of socio-economic class,” Meyers Taylor said. “I think the more diversity we have, the stronger our sport can be. So hopefully this is just the start of more and more people coming out and trying winter sports.”
Kaysha Love
Kaysha Love, introduced to bobsled at a USA Bobsled push camp in October 2020, became one of the fastest-rising talents in the sport by making her Olympic debut at Beijing 2022 just 16 months later. There, she competed as a push athlete in the two-woman event alongside Kaillie Humphries, finishing seventh. Following the Olympics, Love began competing as a pilot in both monobob and two-woman bobsled. She captured the monobob world championship title in early 2025. A 2023 world bronze medalist and a consistent presence on the World Cup circuit, Love has earned 13 career podium finishes, seven in monobob and six in the two-woman event.
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To young Black athletes watching her, Love said, “Honestly, you deserve this space, and don’t be fearful because it hasn’t been done before, because there hasn’t been a lot of us in this space or in the space that you’re trying to achieve, but just know that you belong.”
Elana Meyers Taylor
Elana Meyers Taylor is a five-time Olympic medalist and four-time world champion – the most decorated Black Winter Olympian of all time – and a mother of two who continues to compete at the sport’s highest level. Heading into the Milan Cortina Games, Meyers Taylor will be chasing her first Olympic gold after earning three silver and two bronze medals across four previous Olympics, finishing on the podium in every race of her Olympic career.
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“We want everybody to come out regardless of the color of your skin. We want winter sports to be for everybody, regardless of race, regardless of socio-economic class,” Meyers Taylor said. “I think the more diversity we have, the stronger our sport can be. So hopefully this is just the start of more and more people coming out and trying winter sports.”
Kaysha Love
Kaysha Love, introduced to bobsled at a USA Bobsled push camp in October 2020, became one of the fastest-rising talents in the sport by making her Olympic debut at Beijing 2022 just 16 months later. There, she competed as a push athlete in the two-woman event alongside Kaillie Humphries, finishing seventh. Following the Olympics, Love began competing as a pilot in both monobob and two-woman bobsled. She captured the monobob world championship title in early 2025. A 2023 world bronze medalist and a consistent presence on the World Cup circuit, Love has earned 13 career podium finishes, seven in monobob and six in the two-woman event.
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To young Black athletes watching her, Love said, “Honestly, you deserve this space, and don’t be fearful because it hasn’t been done before, because there hasn’t been a lot of us in this space or in the space that you’re trying to achieve, but just know that you belong.”
Azaria Hill
Azaria Hill is another rising talent in U.S. bobsled, discovering the sport after being recruited by college teammate Kaysha Love. Another former sprinter at UNLV, Hill quickly adapted her track skills to the sled, impressing coaches with her explosiveness and earning a spot on the national team as a brakewoman. Hill finished in fourth place at the 2024 World Championships and third place in the Push Championships.
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She has been inspired by the strong legacy of Black bobsledders. She said, “Bobsled can be a new sport for Black athletes. We have a few on our team already on both the men’s and women’s side, and even on other teams too. It’s just nice to see that diversity.”
Jasmine Jones
Jasmine Jones is making her Olympic debut at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Games on a hot streak, earning a World Cup gold in St. Moritz and silver in Altenberg this season. Another former college sprinter, Jones transitioned to bobsled through talent identification programs and quickly impressed as a brakewoman with her explosive start times. A mom of one and a member of the U.S. Air Force World Class Athlete Program, she balances training with family and service while competing at the sport’s highest level.
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To young girls in sports, Jones says, “When it feels the hardest, that means the breakthrough is coming your way. Keep pushing and you’ll surprise yourself with what you can do.”
Azaria Hill
Azaria Hill is another rising talent in U.S. bobsled, discovering the sport after being recruited by college teammate Kaysha Love. Another former sprinter at UNLV, Hill quickly adapted her track skills to the sled, impressing coaches with her explosiveness and earning a spot on the national team as a brakewoman. Hill finished in fourth place at the 2024 World Championships and third place in the Push Championships.
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She has been inspired by the strong legacy of Black bobsledders. She said, “Bobsled can be a new sport for Black athletes. We have a few on our team already on both the men’s and women’s side, and even on other teams too. It’s just nice to see that diversity.”
Jasmine Jones
Jasmine Jones is making her Olympic debut at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Games on a hot streak, earning a World Cup gold in St. Moritz and silver in Altenberg this season. Another former college sprinter, Jones transitioned to bobsled through talent identification programs and quickly impressed as a brakewoman with her explosive start times. A mom of one and a member of the U.S. Air Force World Class Athlete Program, she balances training with family and service while competing at the sport’s highest level.
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To young girls in sports, Jones says, “When it feels the hardest, that means the breakthrough is coming your way. Keep pushing and you’ll surprise yourself with what you can do.”
Mystique Ro
Mystique Ro discovered skeleton through a recruiting email sent from Elana Meyers Taylor to track and field coaches nationwide. Initially aiming for bobsled, Ro’s athletic profile led coaches to steer her toward skeleton, where she immediately stood out — finishing in the top three at a national rookie camp. At the 2025 IBSF World Championships, Ro won a silver medal in women’s skeleton to become the first American in eight years to medal in the event. She also earned gold in the mixed team competition, an event making its Olympic debut at the 2026 Games.
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Ro wrote, “To all the little girls who are watching sports on TV, in person or on social media, keep playing. There are so many women fighting to give you a place to continue to participate, compete and thrive in all sports no matter how niche. Don’t let someone’s small mind limit you”
Kelly Curtis
Kelly Curtis was the first Black athlete to represent Team USA in Olympic skeleton. A former heptathlete and basketball player, Curtis found her way to the sliding sports after a standout career in track and field, quickly rising through the skeleton ranks with multiple North American Cup titles and a breakthrough World Cup season that earned her a spot at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games. Now a member of the U.S. Air Force World Class Athlete Program, she balances military service and elite sport, chasing excellence on the ice while preparing for the Games.
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“I’m the first,” Curtis said, after becoming the first Black skeleton athlete from the U.S. to compete at the Olympic Games. “But I’m definitely not going to be the last.”
Mystique Ro
Mystique Ro discovered skeleton through a recruiting email sent from Elana Meyers Taylor to track and field coaches nationwide. Initially aiming for bobsled, Ro’s athletic profile led coaches to steer her toward skeleton, where she immediately stood out — finishing in the top three at a national rookie camp. At the 2025 IBSF World Championships, Ro won a silver medal in women’s skeleton to become the first American in eight years to medal in the event. She also earned gold in the mixed team competition, an event making its Olympic debut at the 2026 Games.
ㅤ
Ro wrote, “To all the little girls who are watching sports on TV, in person or on social media, keep playing. There are so many women fighting to give you a place to continue to participate, compete and thrive in all sports no matter how niche. Don’t let someone’s small mind limit you”
Kelly Curtis
Kelly Curtis was the first Black athlete to represent Team USA in Olympic skeleton. A former heptathlete and basketball player, Curtis found her way to the sliding sports after a standout career in track and field, quickly rising through the skeleton ranks with multiple North American Cup titles and a breakthrough World Cup season that earned her a spot at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games. Now a member of the U.S. Air Force World Class Athlete Program, she balances military service and elite sport, chasing excellence on the ice while preparing for the Games.
ㅤ
“I’m the first,” Curtis said, after becoming the first Black skeleton athlete from the U.S. to compete at the Olympic Games. “But I’m definitely not going to be the last.”
