In this edition, we highlight six Black Canadian women who have opened doors in winter sports and at the Olympic games. Many of these women were the first to do something in their sport, and each has undeniably served as inspiration for the next generation of girls of colour and increasing access, representation, and diversity in winter sport. 

In no particular order, here are six Black women who deserve their flowers.

sarah nurse

 

The first Black woman to play hockey for Canada at the Winter Olympics and the first Black woman to win Olympic gold in women’s hockey

Sarah Nurse began skating at age three and playing hockey at age five. Her Olympic dreams were sparked while watching the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. As a child, she even made pretend gold medals to hand out to her family, telling them she would one day compete at the Olympics.

She is now a two-time Olympic gold medallist, winning gold at PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022. During the 2022 Beijing Winter Games, Nurse broke the record for most points scored in a single Olympic women’s hockey tournament, helping Canada secure gold. 

In this year’s Winter Olympics, when the USA and Canada face off in women’s hockey, it will mark the first time more than one Black woman competes in an Olympic hockey game at the same time, with USA’s Laila Edwards and Canada’s Sarah Nurse and Sophie Jaques on the ice.

VANESSA JAMES

 

A source of inspiration for Black girls and women in figure skating

Vanessa James first stepped onto the ice at age 11. Her Olympic dreams were sparked while watching the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics. Before competing for Canada at Beijing 2022, James was already a three-time Olympian, having previously represented France. Today, she stands as a four-time Olympian. 

Skating with partner Eric Radford, James helped Canada place fourth in the team event and 12th in the pairs event at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

PHYLICIA GEORGE

 

The first Black woman to represent Canada at both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games

Phylicia George began running hurdles at age 15, racing in parking lots where she quickly fell in love with running, racing, and competing. She went on to compete in track and field at the 2012 London Olympics and the 2016 Rio Olympics. 

George later transitioned to bobsleigh, competing at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics. Alongside pilot Kaillie Humphries, she won a bronze medal in the two-woman bobsleigh event.

Humphries first reached out to George following the 2016 Rio Olympics, asking if she would consider trying bobsleigh. George decided to “go for it,” and within months, the duo were finishing fourth at competitions and standing on the podium with a silver medal shortly after. 

shelley-ann brown

 

The first Black Canadian woman to win an Olympic medal at the Winter Olympics

Shelley-Ann Brown made history at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, winning silver in bobsleigh with pilot Helen Upperton. 

Before transitioning to bobsleigh, Brown competed in track and field as a sprinter and hurdler at the University of Nebraska. She was recruited to bobsleigh during the 2006-07 season and went on to achieve a career-best fifth-place at the World Championships on three separate occasions. 

DAWN RICHARDSON WILSON

 

Part of the first all-Black bobsleigh crew in Canadian Olympic history

Dawn Richardson Wilson grew up playing multiple sports, including basketball, rugby, athletics, and weightlifting, before discovering bobsleigh through a recruitment camp.

She made her Olympic debut at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, finishing eighth in the two-woman event alongside pilot Cynthia Appiah. The pair became the first all-Black bobsleigh crew to represent Canada at the Olympic games. 

Following Beijing 2022, Wilson shifted her focus to sprinting and competed in track and field at the University of Calgary, where she won three Canada West titles in the 60m. She returned to bobsleigh in 2024 and is competing this year at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. 

CYNTHIA APPIAH

 

Canada’s first Black female bobsleigh pilot

Cynthia Appiah was first introduced to bobsleigh in 2011 but began pursuing the sport seriously in 2013 after graduating from university. During her university years, she competed in athletics, earning three silver medals in shot put and two medals in the 20lb weight throw. 

Appiah made her Olympic debut at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, competing in both the monobob and two-woman events, where she finished eighth in each. 

She is also competing this year at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.

Why this matters

Highlighting Black Canadian women who have paved the way in sport matters because representation shows girls in sport and physical activity what is possible.

These women- and many others- offer powerful examples of what it looks like to belong, to persist, and to lead, while helping grow access, curiosity, and representation across winter sports in Canada.