Reston Speedskater Maame Biney Makes History With Gold Medal

RESTON, VA — After a disappointing 2018 Winter Olympics, Reston speedskater Maame Biney this weekend made history as the first U.S. woman to win a gold medal at the World Junior Short Track Championships,held in Poland. The 18-year-old speedskating phenom became the first African-American woman in that event in Olympic history, but Biney will look ahead to Beijing in 2022 for a chance to win an Oympic medal.

Biney finished in first place in each 500 meter race she entered on Saturday, and completed her first-place finish in 44.305 seconds.

“It feels really good,” Biney told U.S. Speedskating. “I felt like I really deserved it today and I’m really happy. I just raced my race and made sure not to overestimate anyone.”

NBC Washington reports three other speedskaters from the region also competed.

North Potomac, Maryland, resident Gabriella Hachem made it to the heat round in the women’s 500 meter race.

Brandon Kim of Fairfax finished third in the 500 meter B final and 1500 meter B final.

Jonathan So of Herndon, also made it to the semifinals.

After qualifying in the first heat of the 500 meters, a bad start caused Biney to be bumped out of her best event in the quarterfinals at the Olympics. She had another chance to go for a medal in the 1,500 meters, but was not a favorite. She ended up finishing in last.

The normally bubbly 18-year-old, who grew up skating at SkateQuest here in Reston, reportedly was in tears after the 500 meters, knowing she'd likely have to wait another four years to compete for a medal.

But when the 1,500 meters was over and she knew this was the end of her Olympic run, she reportedly broke into a smile.

"I feel very good," she said according to the Washington Post. "Because now I get to eat whatever I want."

Image via Team USA