The Group Chat: Breaking the ice ceiling

As the 2026 Milano Cortina Games roll on, it’s important to note that the Winter Olympics infamously lack diversity — of the nearly 3,000 athletes competing at Milano Cortina, the vast majority are white.

• But athletes of color are breaking barriers left and right at these Games and beyond. Tim Reynolds of AP reports that this is likely Team USA’s most racially diverse showing yet, while Team Canada is making strides too.

• These gains are particularly significant for Black athletes, so today, in honor of Black History Month, we’re giving flowers to a few Black Olympians who broke the ice ceiling at the Winter Games.

❄️ Icons of the ’80s and ’90s

While the 1988 Jamaican men’s bobsled team cruised to history (and cultural touchstone status thanks to Cool Runnings), three women were showing the world Black excellence. American Paraskier Bonnie St. John became the first Black athlete to medal at the 1984 Winter Paralympics, and American figure skater Debi Thomas earned the first Winter Olympic medal for a Black athlete at Calgary 1988.

• French figure skater Surya Bonaly became a sensation in the ’90s, daring to execute her famous backflip at Nagano 1998 despite knowing it would result in a points deduction (the move was deemed too dangerous for competition at the time). If only she’d been born in the Quad God era.

• Bonaly endured galling racism throughout her career but remained defiant, from her backflip to her refusal to wear tights with her costumes when she couldn’t find ones made for Black skin. A true trailblazer.

🥇 Striking gold in the ’00s and ’10s

The 2002 Salt Lake City Games were massive for barrier-breaking. That’s when American bobsledder Vonetta Flowers became the first-ever Black athlete to win Winter Olympics gold — despite being “scared out of [her] mind” to try the sport for the first time just two years prior. Jarome Iginla joined her ranks when the Canadian men’s hockey team won gold days later.

• As for solo acts, American speed skater Shani Davis became the first Black athlete to win gold in an individual event at Torino 2006, a feat that wouldn’t be matched by a woman until fellow Team USA speed skater Erin Jackson did it at Beijing 2022.

🏆 History-making athletes at Milano Cortina 2026

The most decorated Black athlete in Winter Games history? That’s Elana Meyers Taylor, American bobsledder and five-time medalist. She was also chosen to be the first Black flag-bearer for Team USA’s Parade of Nations walk at Beijing 2022, a huge honor, although she didn’t get to do it because she came down with COVID-19 and sadly missed the Opening Ceremony.

• This year, the aforementioned Erin Jackson became the first Black woman to officially bear the flag for Team USA. Now both she and Meyers Taylor are ready to extend their legacies in Italy.

Also gearing up for a run at gold are some groundbreaking women’s hockey players: Team Canada’s Sarah Nurse is the first woman to win Olympic gold in the sport, and her teammate Sophie Jaques hopes to become the second…but not if friend of The GIST Laila Edwards has anything to say about it as she makes history for Team USA.

• And the trend extends far beyond North America — winter sports participation is expanding in African and Caribbean countries, meaning athletes like Haitian cross country skier Stevenson Savart have a chance to chase Olympic dreams more than ever before. There’s always more work to do, but so much progress to celebrate.