“Kick some hiney Biney” were the words on the sign Maame Biney’s father waved just before the finals of the 500-meter speed skating event at the Olympic trials in Salt Lake City 12 days ago. And 17-year-old Maame did precisely that. She kicked some hiney as she won all of her races to win the trials and qualify first for the Olympics, becoming the second black American and the first black American woman to ever do so.
Biney follows the great Shani Davis who has dominated men’s long-track speed skating for most of the past 16 years.
Expert commentators say Biney is already the strongest American to come on the scene in over 20 years. Look for her in the Winter Olympics in February.