Maame Biney
Maame Biney (born January 28, 2000) is an American short track speed skater who competed in the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang.
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 28, 2000 Accra, Ghana |
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) |
| Home town | Reston, Virginia |
| Sport | |
| Country | United States |
| Sport | Short track speed skating |
| Event(s) | 500 m 1000 m 1500 m |
| Turned pro | 2017 |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Olympic finals | 2018 Winter Olympics |
Early life
Biney was born in Accra, Ghana. At the age of five, she relocated to the United States to live with her father. Biney began skating when she was six years old in Northern Virginia. She began figure skating but switched to speed skating on a coach's recommendation.
Career
Biney won the bronze medal in the 500-meters at the 2017 World Junior Short Track Speed Skating Championships.[1] She made her senior team debut later that year winning the America's Cup at the U.S Speedskating Short Track World Cup Qualifier.[2] On December 16, 2017, Biney qualified for the 2018 Olympics by winning the 500-meters at the U.S. Olympic Trials,[3] becoming the second African-born athlete to represent the U.S. at the Winter Olympics, after Madagascar-born biathlete Dan Westover in 1998.[3]
In the 2018 Olympics, Biney did not make it past her qualifying heat in the 1500-meters, and was ousted from the 500-meter race in the quarterfinals.[4]
Coming back from the 2018 Olympics, Biney did well at the 2018 World Junior Short Track Speed Skating Championships, winning gold in the 500-meters, bronze in the 1000-meters, and bronze overall.
References
- Penny, Brandon (December 16, 2017). "Maame Biney Becomes First African-American Woman To Make U.S. Olympic Speedskating Team". TeamUSA.org.
- Copeland, Kareem (August 20, 2017). "Maame Biney looking like the future of U.S. speedskating". The Denver Post.
- Grassie, Julia (December 20, 2017). "Who is Maame Biney?". NBC Olympics.
- "Maame Biney - Schedule". Olympic.org.