Today in your daily dose of #blackgirlmagic, Maame Biney takes the cake as she became the first black woman to qualify for a U.S. Olympic speedskating team with a pair of victories in the 500 meters.
Saturday, the 17-year-old Ghana native made it look easy by beating Olympians Lana Gehring, Jessica Kooreman and Katherine Reutter-Adamek during the short track trials.
“I can't believe it, aww geez,” she said after squealing with joy. “It's a really good feeling, but it has to set in first because it takes me a while. I'm like, ‘Holy cow.’”
Her dad reportedly held up a sign that read “kick some hiney, Biney,” which must have been all the motivation she needed because that’s exactly what she did.
Her dad held a sign reading: "Kick some hiney, Biney''
And boy oh boy, did she ever. ???????? pic.twitter.com/d9zjf7iUop— U.S. Olympic Team (@TeamUSA) December 17, 2017
Biney set a blistering pace in taking an early lead that widened as the wild and wooly race went on. She crossed the finish line on the hockey-sized rink and began clapping and then pumping her arms so hard she lost her balance and fell. Still on the high of winning, she laughed her way through it.
“When I realized that I made the Olympic team, I started cheering like crazy and then I made my epic fall,” she said.
According to the LA Times, Biney will be the second black speedskater on a U.S. Olympic team. Shani Davis was 19 when he qualified for the short track team in 2002. He later switched to long track and won four medals, including two golds.
Congrats, girl! You've got a whole team of proud black folk rooting for you.
