Triplets 17 Have Sights Set on the 2026 Winter Olympics
Seventeen year old Rivers triplets—Helaina Henniyah and Henri IV—have been skiing since age 1 and racing since age 5 . After earning Eagle Scout honors they now train hard to represent Jamaica in alpine skiing at the 2026 Winter Olympics .
Early Beginnings on the Slopes
Helaina Henniyah and Henri Rivers IV are 17 year old triplets from Long Island New York whose Olympic journey began almost as soon as they could walk . Born in August 2007 in Brooklyn they were introduced to skiing snowboarding sledding and snowtubing by their parents—both certified ski instructors and alpine race coaches . They began skiing at age 1 and entered competitive racing by the time they were 5 .
Training and Racing Roots
Their early training took place at Windham Mountain in the Catskills where they became part of the Windham Race Factory . Starting in the children’s learning center they progressed from the bunny slope to competitive racing moving through age group competitions with steady improvement each year .
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Academic Balance Meets Athletic Dedication
By the age of 14 the triplets’ training schedule had intensified to six days a week . While their athletic commitments were demanding they also excelled academically attending boarding schools that supported both their studies and skiing . In June 2025 all three graduated from high school and received college acceptances—demonstrating their ability to balance elite sports with academic achievement .
A Unique Eagle Scout Achievement
Outside of skiing the Rivers triplets made history as the first Black triplets in the United States to earn Eagle Scout honors . For their service projects they beautified a public space by installing a 25 foot fiberglass flagpole paving stones flower beds and benches .
Gearing Toward the 2026 Winter Olympics
The triplets are now training in Argentina with their sights firmly set on the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina where they aim to represent Jamaica in alpine skiing . This decision honors their mother’s Caribbean heritage. Their father shared that the plan for them to ski for Jamaica was envisioned nearly two decades ago before they were even born and credits their success to years of consistent work and motivation.
Henri IV is closest to qualification needing just two more points to secure his Olympic spot . Meanwhile Helaina and Henniyah are competing in the South American Cup this summer in pursuit of their own qualifications .Two of the triplets have already competed for Jamaica at the 2024 Youth Olympic Games in South Korea gaining valuable international experience .
Family Pride and Perseverance
For the Rivers triplets the Olympics represent more than competition—it’s about legacy and pride . Helaina described it as a lifelong dream Henniyah expressed gratitude for the chance to honor her mother’s homeland and Henri IV committed to staying consistent and enjoying the journey. Their father beamed with pride noting their character and perseverance as much as their athletic talent : “I’ve done my job. I really feel happy that I’ve done good for them . They’re great individuals .”