THE BLACK MEDIA AUTHORITY • AFRO.COM
Volume 134 No. 29
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FEBRUARY 14, 2026 - FEBRUARY 20, 2026
AP Photo / Aijaz Rahi
AP Photo / AP Photo/Ben Curtis
Black athletes are shining at the 2026 Winter Olympics, currently being held in Cortina and Milan, Italy. Representing America, Africa, the Caribbean and more, Black sports stars from around the world are partaking in the historic event, which features 116 events in a total of eight different sports and 16 disciplines. Shown here, Team USA’s Mystique Ro (left), training on Feb. 11 for her skeleton competition, and speedskater Erin Jackson, as she competes in the women’s 1,000 meters speedskating race on Feb. 9.
History in motion: Black athletes break barriers at Winter Olympics 2026
By Mekhi Abbott Special to the AFRO mabbott@afro.com The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics are officially underway in Italy and there are Black athletes across many disciplines and nations to note. Here is a look at the athletes who need your support, and others you weren’t aware of that are already extremely accomplished.
Black athletes shine for Team USA
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Hockey Laila Edwards has already made history by becoming the first Black woman to make
the United States women’s ice hockey roster. The 22-yearold senior defender from Cleveland Heights, Ohio currently attends Wisconsin and serves as an alternate captain for the Badgers. The U.S. women’s ice hockey team is 4-0 at the Olympics, as of Feb. 11. They are winning in dominant fashion, out scoring opponents 20-1, including a win against reigning Olympic champion, Canada. Games can be viewed using the Peacock streaming app. Edwards made history in the matchup against Canada on Feb. 9, becoming the first Black woman to score a goal
for Team USA. Speed Skating Erin Jackson entered 2026 as the reigning champion in 500m speed skating competition, which made her the first Black woman to win an individual gold medal at a Winter Olympic Games. “I’m coming in as the defending champion and with that comes a ton of pressure, but I really like the pressure…” said Jackson in an exclusive interview with Olympics.com. “I’m typically a really laid back and relaxed competitor, so the pressure helps me push to that next level and find that fire.”
Bobsledding There are a handful of Black athletes competing on the bobsleigh team, highlighted by Elana Meyers Taylor. Taylor is a five-time Olympic medallist and is currently the most decorated Black athlete in Winter Olympic history. The official bobsledding competition begins on Sun., Feb. 15. Other Black members of Team USA’s bobsledding crew include California’s
Azaria Hall, Pennsylvania’s Jasmine Jones and Kaysha Love, of Utah. Skeleton Mystique Ro, the 31-yearold athlete from Nokesville, Va. will help represent the U.S. in women’s skeleton. She is joined by Darryl Payne Jr., the lone Black male athlete competing in skeleton for the United States (U.S). Payne is the first African-American
“The pressure helps me push to that next level and find that fire.”
man to compete in skeleton on behalf of the U.S. Black Canadian Athletes Sarah Nurse and Sophie Jaques are two Canadian Black athletes leading a very talented Canadian women’s national ice hockey team. Nurse is a forward playing in her third Winter Games. She currently holds the record for most points scored in a single women’s Olympic hockey tournament. Jaques is making her Olympic debut. The 25-yearold made history in 2023 after winning the Patty Kazmaier Award as a member of the Continued on A3
Governors cancel meeting, dinner at White House after ‘blatant’ disrespect of Gov. Wes Moore By AFRO Staff Part of an annual meeting of U.S. governors has been cancelled, according to information released by The Associated Press (AP). The move comes after Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, the nation’s only Black governor, was disinvited from the upcoming National Governors Association (NGA) dinner, along with Colorado Gov. Jared Polis. After Moore sounded the alarm, it was then made public that only Republican governors were invited to the annual NGA business meeting with the sitting president and members of his administration. Democratic governors protested the move, leading the NGA to cancel the White House dinner and the business session included in their 2026 Winter Meeting, slated for Feb. 19-21. NGA Chair Kevin Stitt, the Republican
governor from Oklahoma, sent a letter to the state leaders on Feb. 10 about the cancelled Jan. 20 business meeting. “Because NGA’s mission is to represent all 55 governors, the Association is no longer serving as the facilitator for that event, and it is no longer included in our official program,” Stitt wrote in the letter, later obtained and released by The Associated Press. Moore, who serves as vice chair of the NGA, deemed the decision to exclude him from the annual dinner as “another example of blatant disrespect.” “As the nation’s only Black governor, I can’t ignore that being singled out for exclusion from this bipartisan tradition carries an added weight—whether that was the intent or not,” Moore said in a statement. Continued on A3
Maryland GovPics / Pat Siebert
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore is the only sitting Black head of state in the United States of America. Moore recently spoke out after his invitation to the annual National Governors Association (NGA) dinner at the White House was rescinded. Now, NGA leaders say the dinner and a business meeting with the 47th president of the United States are cancelled.
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