Seba Johnson

Seba Johnson is an African American Olympic athlete, actress, and vegan animal rights activist.[5][4] She was the first black woman to ski at the Olympics, and the youngest alpine ski racer in Olympic history (she competed at age 14).[4]

Seba Johnson
Johnson in 2016
Personal information
National teamUnited States Virgin Islands
EthnicityAfrican American
CitizenshipAmerican
Born (1973-05-01) May 1, 1973[1]
Frederiksted, St. Croix[1]
ResidenceLos Angeles, California[2]
Alma materHoward University[3]
Other interestsAnimal rights, acting, activism, public speaking
Websitewww.sebajohnson.com
Sport
CountryUnited States Virgin Islands
SportAlpine skiing
Event(s)
Retired1992[4]
Updated on 14 August 2016.

Early life

Johnson was born in Saint Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Her father was a Tutsi tribesman from Burundi, Africa, and her mother, Suzy, a New Hampshire native, raised Johnson and her half-sister exclusively.[5][4][6][2] Suzy raised Johnson as a vegan from birth, and took her to animal rights protests from a young age.[6]

Johnson spent her childhood traveling with her family to numerous countries, living for a time in New Hampshire and Maine, and later moving to Stateline, Nevada, on the shore of Lake Tahoe.[6][7][8][2] Johnson began skiing at the age of seven.[8] After moving to Nevada, she trained at Heavenly Valley Ski Resort while her mother worked at a casino to support the family.[9]

Athletic career and activism

At age 14, Johnson represented the Virgin Islands in giant slalom and Super-G at the 1988 Winter Olympics, where she became the youngest alpine ski racer and first black female skier in Olympic history. She was also the flag bearer in the opening ceremony.[1][4][10] At age 15, Johnson became the first black ski racer to finish in the top 30 in international competition.[8] She competed again for the Virgin Islands in slalom and giant slalom at the 1992 Winter Olympics.[1] As of 2014, she remains the only black woman to ski competitively at the Olympic Games.[11]

In 1989, Johnson was disqualified from a World Cup ski race for refusing to wear a suit containing wool and leather.[12][5] Johnson qualified for the 1994 Winter Olympics, but chose not to compete in protest of Norway's decision to resume whaling.[5][4][11] She petitioned the IOC to challenge Japan to end whale and dolphin hunting before the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.[11] Johnson has also spoken out against homophobia, criticizing the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia for the "horrid anti-gay law that now exists in that host country".[11]

Education and later pursuits

Johnson retired from athletic competition in 1992 to pursue an education in fine arts at Howard University, and to educate youth about health and animal welfare.[4] The racism she experienced as a black skier played a part in her decision to retire early.[6][3][2] She is a member of the Screen Actors Guild, and has appeared in commercials and television productions.[13] Johnson lives in Los Angeles and has worked as a special education assistant[14], has become a Certified Yoga Teacher, and continues to accept requests as an international public speaker.

Johnson's skis are on display in the first exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.[15][14]

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References
  1. "Seba Johnson". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
  2. "Seba Johnson: Vegan Olympic Ski Racer". Viva la Vegan. August 2013. Retrieved August 15, 2016.
  3. Carbone, Gina (January 19, 2009). "Maine skier sees links to Obama". Seacoastonline.com. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
  4. "Seba Johnson". Great Vegan Athletes. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
  5. Johnson, Seba (October 2002). "Taking the Lessons My Mother Taught Me to the African-American Community". Satya. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
  6. Elke, Lorena (2014). "Interview with Seba Johnson". The Ghosts in Our Machine. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
  7. "Virgin Island Skier, 14, On Future Olympic Stage". Jet. March 14, 1988. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
  8. "Seba Johnson is setting records at the 1989 World". United Press International. February 10, 1989. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
  9. Gallagher, Noel K. (September 24, 2016). "A former Mainer completes her winding run to the Smithsonian". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved September 28, 2016.
  10. "1998-1968 Teams". Virgin Islands Olympics Committee. March 8, 1998. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
  11. Jauron, Kezia (February 22, 2014). "Vegan Olympian Seba Johnson Speaks Out Against Sochi". The Thinking Vegan. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
  12. "Skier Denied World Cup Showing; Racism Charged". Jet. December 1989. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
  13. "Seba Johnson" (PDF). Screen Actors Guild. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
  14. Betancourt, David (September 24, 2016). "The first African American woman to ski in the Olympics is honored". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
  15. Early, Brian (September 22, 2016). "Seba Johnson to be featured in African American museum". Seacoastonline.com. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
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