THE bobsleigh team has received majority of the attention in Jamaica’s build-up to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, however young Henri Rivers IV will make history for the island in Alpine skiing — and he’s being viewed as the standard-bearer in the event.

The 18-year-old Rivers IV will be Jamaica’s third-ever representative in a skiing event at the Olympics when he competes in the men’s slalom event this morning at the Milano-Cortina Games.

It’s a quick step up for the rising teen who competed at the Winter Youth Olympics two years ago but Rivers IV is elated that his once seemingly impossible dream has turned into a reality.

“A wave of pride is definitely going to hit me, you know, just like, ‘Dang! I really did this, and this is going to be my future,’ “ he told
Olympics.com ahead of competition. “[I] accomplished what [I] dreamed about and it’s just going to be a very, very good day for me.”

Jamaica Olympic Association President Christopher Samuda told the Jamaica Observer that Rivers VI’s character and quality make him more than deserving of his spot at the Olympics.

“What a model young Olympian — humble, focused, articulate with his aspirations, very grateful to his country for the opportunity, and yearning to make our nation proud,” he said.

“When I saw him, the ice is his territory and he’s occupying and owning it with admirable inspiration. This is a year Henry Jr will always remember for a lifetime, for though he will be on the ice for just some moments, it will be for him a timeless, priceless Olympic experience.”

While many children are attracted to lucrative sports such as football and athletics, American-born Rivers IV, along with his twin sisters Henniyah and Helaina, found a love for skiing very early on. Their father Henry Rivers III, who skied during his youth, ensured there was a pathway for his children to succeed in the event.

“I was in this programme called CLC (Children’s Learning Center), which is basically daycare for skiing,” Rivers IV said. “I almost got kicked out because no one wanted to ski with me; I was too advanced, I was too good, and if it wasn’t for this one guy, Will Santella, who wanted to ski with me, I probably wouldn’t have wanted to keep skiing.

“He just took me in, and we just skied whatever, did whatever, because I could ski anything at that point. We just did a bunch of trails and had the most fun — and without him I probably wouldn’t have had the excitement to keep skiing.”

Now Rivers IV, Jamaica’s flag-bearer during the opening ceremony, has transitioned to the senior stage and competes against the very best in the world.

While he may not be a medal contender, Rivers IV is aiming to be a trailblazer in a sport that tropical Jamaica once thought unattainable.

“It feels right for me, being able to represent my mom’s home country. It’s a sense of pride, and also a sense of just wanting to show them that we’re good at winter sports too,” he said.

“I want [kids] to look at it and be inspired by what I’m doing and, you know, one day wanting to become who I am and kind of follow that same career path — you know, try to be an Olympian.”

Along with Rivers IV, Jamaica will also be in action in bobsleigh events, with Mica Moore in the women’s monobob and Shane Pitter who will pilot the team in the men’s two-man event.

On Sunday, Welsh-born Moore was ranked 15th out of 25 competitors after competing in two heats of the event. She clocked 1:00.55 in the first heat, which was the 17th best, but improved to 1:00.43 in heat two which was the 14th-best run.

Jamaican skier Henri Rivers IV