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Home • News

This Teen Just Became The First Black Woman To Make An Olympic Speedskating Team

This Teen Just Became The First Black Woman To Make An Olympic Speedskating Team
Harry How/Getty Images
By Paula Rogo · Updated October 24, 2020

A 17-year-old Virginia teen just became the first black woman to qualify for a U.S. Olympic speedskating team.

Maame Biney qualified with a pair of victories in the 500 meters at the short track trials Saturday, according to USA Today. She beat out Olympians Lana Gehring, Jessica Kooreman and Katherine Reutter-Adamek.

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“I can’t believe it, aww geez,” she said after her win. “It’s a really good feeling, but it has to set in first because it takes me a while. I’m like, ‘Holy cow.’”

The Ghanaian native  will become the second black speedskater on a U.S. Olympic team after Shani Davis. Davis qualified for the short track in 2002.

Congrats Biney!