When you think of winter sports, what comes to mind? Resorts in places that are remote and expensive to visit. Maybe the cozy aesthetic of après-ski culture. Probably not many melanated people. But here's the thing about stereotypes: they're boring, they're tired, and they're about to get absolutely demolished by Black women athletes who are claiming space on ice and snow like it's their birthright during the Milan Olympics.

Let's be real—winter sports have had a diversity problem since, well, forever. The barriers to entry are steep (literally and figuratively): expensive equipment, limited access to facilities, geographic gatekeeping, and a culture that hasn't exactly rolled out the welcome mat for Black athletes. But despite all that, Black women are not just showing up in winter sports—they're excelling, innovating, and forcing the entire industry to reckon with what a winter Olympic athlete actually looks like.

If you're not already familiar with Leila Edwards, let’s fix that immediately. Leila is one of the rising stars in women's hockey, and she's doing it with style, skill, and the kind of confidence that makes you want to lace up skates and run through a wall (or glide gracefully across ice, depending on your coordination levels).

Women's hockey has historically been one of the whitest spaces in all of sports. The stats are grim: according to USA Hockey's 2023 annual guide, less than 3% of registered female hockey players in the United States identify as Black or African American. That makes what Leila is doing—not just playing at an elite level but thriving—even more significant. Leila isn’t even in the PWHL yet, and she’s making history as the first Black woman to play for the USA Women’s Hockey Team. We are all Leila’s mom right now.

Remember "Cool Runnings"? Of course you do. The 1993 film about Jamaica's men's bobsled team became a cultural phenomenon, proving that you don't need snow in your backyard to compete at the Winter Olympics. But here's what the movie didn't show you: Jamaica's women have been out here doing the damn thing, too.

Jamaica's women's bobsled team has been competing at the highest levels of international winter sports, and they're doing it with limited resources, maximum determination, and a whole lot of Caribbean flair. The team has featured athletes like Jazmine Fenlator-Victorian, who made history as a member of the first women's bobsled team to represent Jamaica at the Winter Olympics in 2018.

Jazmine's journey is the kind of sports story that deserves its own Netflix documentary. Born in the U.S. Virgin Islands, she competed for the United States before switching to represent Jamaica, her father's homeland. She didn't just participate—she helped pave the way for future generations of Caribbean athletes to see themselves in winter sports.

And let's talk about the 2022 Beijing Olympics, where Jamaica's women's bobsled team made history again. Jazmine Fenlator-Victorian and Carrie Russell represented Jamaica in the two-woman bobsled event, continuing to build on a legacy that started with those trailblazing men back in 1988. The significance? They're normalizing the idea that winter sports belong to everyone, regardless of latitude.

Erin Jackson made history as the first Black woman to win an Olympic medal in speedskating. Speedskating is the ice skating equivalent of sprinting in Track and Field. At the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, Erin took home gold in the 500-meter event, cementing her place as one of the fastest women on ice. Erin was originally an inline skater and roller derby athlete before transitioning to ice skating in 2017. Within just a few years, she went from learning the sport to becoming an Olympic champion. That's not luck—that's raw talent meeting relentless work ethic.

What makes Erin's story even more powerful is how she's using her platform to advocate for diversity in winter sports. She's been vocal about the lack of representation and the need for more accessible pathways for Black athletes to enter these traditionally exclusive spaces. Erin was the Team USA Flag Bearer for the opening ceremony, and I can’t think of a better way to kick things off (yes, I also loved seeing the guys from Heated Rivalry bear the torches).

Okay, so why should women's sports fans—especially those who might not think twice about the winter Olympics—care about Black women breaking into these spaces? First, because access to sports shouldn't be determined by your ZIP code or your melanin levels. Winter sports have been gatekept by economics and geography for too long. When Black women succeed in these spaces despite the barriers, they're not just winning medals—they're dismantling systems that were designed to exclude them.

Second, because representation in sports has a ripple effect. Studies have shown that when young people see athletes who look like them, they're more likely to participate in sports, stay active, and develop confidence.

Third, because winter sports need this shake-up. For too long, the culture has been exclusionary, expensive, and honestly, a little boring in its homogeneity. Black women are bringing new energy, new perspectives, and new audiences to these sports. That's good for everyone—from athletes to sponsors to fans who are hungry for something different.

Leila Edwards will be back with the University of Wisconsin after the Olympic break and is slated to be a first-round draft pick in the PWHL later this year. Winter sports don't have to look the way they've always looked. I wrote a story about the PWHL and hosted the founder of Black Girl Hockey Club on the podcast. I’d love for you to check out those stories, share those stories, and help me keep the conversations going.