PARK CITY, Utah — Bobsledder Kehri Jones gets the Catch-22. As an American athlete, she only gets to hear her national anthem played at her races if she wins. As a black woman, she understands protests during the national anthem in other sports are calling to improve the type of treatment she has endured herself.
“It’s a delicate balance representing the U.S. and wanting to represent your country well and still wanting to let people know what is going on is not OK,” she said.
Jones and other aspiring Winter Olympians are trying to find that balance, beginning the intense process of qualifying for and competing in Pyeongchang next February while speaking out about their views on social and political issues.