Jamaica is known for great Olympic athletes. From Usain Bolt to Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce to Veronica Campbell-Brown, these athletes clinched gold medals for their country in dominant fashion over the years. But while Jamaica is known as a track and field powerhouse at the Summer Games, it isn’t exactly known for cleaning up during the Winter Games. But, the tides just might be changing.
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Triplets Henniyah, Helaina and Henri Rivers are trying to change that by representing Jamaica in alpine skiing at the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, Italy.
The 18-year-olds from Long Island, New York, were introduced to skiing at a young age by their parents, who are also ski instructors. The triplets’ mom, Karen Rivers, a native of Jamaica, told “The TODAY Show” that she had her kids in the snow before they could walk.
“She was racing with them in her belly,” dad Henri Rivers III cosigned.
The siblings, who say they are each other’s best friends, are excited to have the opportunity to compete in the Olympics together.
“It would mean a lot,” Henri Rivers told TODAY. “I use my sisters as motivation towards skiing, because without them I really wouldn’t be the skier who I am today.”
If their Olympic dreams come true, the Rivers would break all kinds of records. Not only would they be the first triplets to compete in the same Winter Olympics, but if they earn a spot on the podium, they would be the first Jamaicans to medal in the sport. Benjamin Alexander was the first Jamaican to represent the country in alpine skiing at the 2022 Games.
Although the Rivers triplets are prepared to meet the moment at the 2026 Games and accomplish something no other Jamaicans have done before them, they are confident that other athletes from the Caribbean will most certainly follow in their footsteps.
“Years down the line, there will be Nordic skiers for Jamaica,” Henniyah Rivers said. “I believe it.”
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