2010 Winter Olympics Black Olympians

Meet the Black olympians who participated in Vancouver's 2010 Winter Games.

Bill Schuffenhauer - Schuffenhauer overcame a difficult childhood through youth athletics. After growing up in a broken home to a drug-addicted mother and stepfather, he found refuge in high school sports, particularly football and track and field. After transitioning to bobsledding, he made his first Winter Olympic Team in 2002, winning a silver medal, and is now competing in his third Games.

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Bill Schuffenhauer - Schuffenhauer overcame a difficult childhood through youth athletics. After growing up in a broken home to a drug-addicted mother and stepfather, he found refuge in high school sports, particularly football and track and field. After transitioning to bobsledding, he made his first Winter Olympic Team in 2002, winning a silver medal, and is now competing in his third Games.

Chuck Berkeley - Berkeley always dreamed of competing in the Summer Olympic Games in track and field, specializing in the 400 meters while in college. The switch to bobsledding in 2007 was a fruitful one. He won a World Cup competition at the end of 2009.

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Chuck Berkeley - Berkeley always dreamed of competing in the Summer Olympic Games in track and field, specializing in the 400 meters while in college. The switch to bobsledding in 2007 was a fruitful one. He won a World Cup competition at the end of 2009.

Elana Meyers - What do you do if the Olympic Games eliminates the sport you love? According to Elana Meyers, you find another sport. Before becoming a bobsledder in 2007, she was a starter for her college softball team. She won a silver medal at the 2009 World Championships and is definitely a medal contender in Vancouver.

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Elana Meyers - What do you do if the Olympic Games eliminates the sport you love? According to Elana Meyers, you find another sport. Before becoming a bobsledder in 2007, she was a starter for her college softball team. She won a silver medal at the 2009 World Championships and is definitely a medal contender in Vancouver.

Errol Kerr - Errol Kerr is Jamaica’s lone entry in the Winter Games, since the Jamaican bobsled team did not qualify. He is competing in the newest sport in the Olympic Games, ski cross.

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Errol Kerr - Errol Kerr is Jamaica’s lone entry in the Winter Games, since the Jamaican bobsled team did not qualify. He is competing in the newest sport in the Olympic Games, ski cross.

Jarome Iginla - Vonetta Flowers was not the only Black person to win a gold medal at the 2002 Winter Games. Jarome Iginla helped the Canadian hockey team to a gold medal that year, and he’s back a third time around to win a gold medal on home turf. Iginla is a five-time NHL All-Star and the Calgary Flames’ all-time leader in goals, points and games played.

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Jarome Iginla - Vonetta Flowers was not the only Black person to win a gold medal at the 2002 Winter Games. Jarome Iginla helped the Canadian hockey team to a gold medal that year, and he’s back a third time around to win a gold medal on home turf. Iginla is a five-time NHL All-Star and the Calgary Flames’ all-time leader in goals, points and games played.

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Johnny Oduya - Oduya is taking a break from the Atlanta Thrashers NHL team to represent his native Sweden in Olympic Hockey. Since Sweden is the defending Olympic Champion, Oduya has a strong chance of taking home a medal.

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Johnny Oduya - Oduya is taking a break from the Atlanta Thrashers NHL team to represent his native Sweden in Olympic Hockey. Since Sweden is the defending Olympic Champion, Oduya has a strong chance of taking home a medal.

Kalyna Roberge - The unpredictable sport of short-track speedskating has done well by Kalyna Roberge. At 23, she is her country’s best short-track speed skater and is looking to take home gold in her best event, the 500 meters. She will also be competing in the 1000m, 1500m, and the 3,000m.

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Kalyna Roberge - The unpredictable sport of short-track speedskating has done well by Kalyna Roberge. At 23, she is her country’s best short-track speed skater and is looking to take home gold in her best event, the 500 meters. She will also be competing in the 1000m, 1500m, and the 3,000m.

Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong - He picked up skiing six years ago after becoming a receptionist at a ski resort in England. With no financial support from the Ghanaian Olympic Committee, he has funded his training for the last five years all himself. He’s also a one-man marketing machine, with the moniker, “snow leopard” and his own line of clothes.

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Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong - He picked up skiing six years ago after becoming a receptionist at a ski resort in England. With no financial support from the Ghanaian Olympic Committee, he has funded his training for the last five years all himself. He’s also a one-man marketing machine, with the moniker, “snow leopard” and his own line of clothes.

Kalyna Roberge - The unpredictable sport of short-track speedskating has done well by Kalyna Roberge. At 23, she is her country’s best short-track speed skater and is looking to take home gold in her best event, the 500 meters. She will also be competing in the 1000m, 1500m, and the 3,000m.

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Kalyna Roberge - The unpredictable sport of short-track speedskating has done well by Kalyna Roberge. At 23, she is her country’s best short-track speed skater and is looking to take home gold in her best event, the 500 meters. She will also be competing in the 1000m, 1500m, and the 3,000m.

Nkeiruka Ezekh - Nkeiruka Ezekh is competing in her second Olympic Games in the unique sport of curling. She has a Nigerian father and a Russian mother.

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Nkeiruka Ezekh - Nkeiruka Ezekh is competing in her second Olympic Games in the unique sport of curling. She has a Nigerian father and a Russian mother.

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Robel Teklemariam - Robel Teklemariam is the first Ethiopian to compete in the Winter Games and he’s hoping that he will inspire more Ethiopians to take up skiing so he won’t be the last. The Ethiopian community of Vancouver welcomed his arrival in the Olympic City and will fete him on February 27.

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Robel Teklemariam - Robel Teklemariam is the first Ethiopian to compete in the Winter Games and he’s hoping that he will inspire more Ethiopians to take up skiing so he won’t be the last. The Ethiopian community of Vancouver welcomed his arrival in the Olympic City and will fete him on February 27.

Robin Szolkowy - This mixed-race German is one-half of the reigning world champion pairs figure skating team. He and his partner, Aliona Savchenko, are on track to win the gold medal in Vancouver. After living his entire life in the former East Germany, Szolkowy did not meet his father until the age of 28.

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Robin Szolkowy - This mixed-race German is one-half of the reigning world champion pairs figure skating team. He and his partner, Aliona Savchenko, are on track to win the gold medal in Vancouver. After living his entire life in the former East Germany, Szolkowy did not meet his father until the age of 28.

Winter Olympians Visit DC - On Wednesday afternoon, the president, first lady and the White House Office on Olympic, Paralympic and Youth Sport will welcome US Olympic and Paralympic athletes to the White House. The Obamas will congratulate and thank the teams for representing the country during the Vancouver Winter Games.

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Shani Davis - The Chicago native became the first African American to win an individual gold medal in the Winter Olympic Games in 2006. Davis comes into these Games as the leading contender in the 1000m and 1500m.

Timothy Beck - Beck is a unique athlete, having competed in the Summer (2004, track and field) and Winter Olympic Games (2002). His countrymen bestowed upon him the honor of carrying the flag in the opening ceremonies because of his team-building qualities.

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Timothy Beck - Beck is a unique athlete, having competed in the Summer (2004, track and field) and Winter Olympic Games (2002). His countrymen bestowed upon him the honor of carrying the flag in the opening ceremonies because of his team-building qualities.

Vanessa James and Yannick Bonheur - Although their chances of winning a medal are slim, they will still make history as the first entirely Black pair to skate in the Olympic Games. She is British, but has lived much of her life in America. He’s a Black Frenchman named after tennis star and singer, Yannick Noah.

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Vanessa James and Yannick Bonheur - Although their chances of winning a medal are slim, they will still make history as the first entirely Black pair to skate in the Olympic Games. She is British, but has lived much of her life in America. He’s a Black Frenchman named after tennis star and singer, Yannick Noah.