Seba Johnson facts for kids
Johnson in 2016
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 1, 1973 Frederiksted, St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands |
| Residence | Los Angeles, California |
| Alma mater | Howard University |
| Other interests | Animal rights, acting, activism, public speaking |
| Website | www.sebajohnson.com |
| Sport | |
| Country | United States Virgin Islands |
| Sport | Alpine skiing |
| Event(s) |
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| Retired | 1992 |
| Updated on 14 August 2016. | |
Seba Johnson is an amazing athlete, actress, and activist. She is known for being an Olympic skier. Seba was the first Black woman to ski in the Olympics. She was also the youngest alpine ski racer in Olympic history. She competed when she was only 14 years old! Seba is also a vegan and works to protect animals.
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Early Life and Skiing Start
Seba Johnson was born on May 1, 1973. She was born in Saint Croix in the United States Virgin Islands. Her mother, Suzy, raised Seba and her half-sister. Seba's mother was from New Hampshire.
Seba was raised as a vegan from birth. This means she did not eat any animal products. Her mother also took her to animal rights protests. Seba learned about protecting animals from a young age.
Seba's family traveled a lot when she was a child. They lived in New Hampshire and Maine for a while. Later, they moved to Stateline, Nevada. This town is on the shore of Lake Tahoe. Seba started skiing when she was seven years old. After moving to Nevada, she trained at Heavenly Valley Ski Resort. Her mother worked at a casino to support the family.
Olympic Skiing Career
When Seba was 14, she represented the Virgin Islands. She competed in the 1988 Winter Olympics. She raced in the giant slalom and Super-G events. This made her the youngest alpine ski racer in Olympic history. She was also the first Black female skier to compete in the Olympics. Seba even carried the flag for her country in the opening ceremony!
At age 15, Seba made history again. She was the first Black ski racer to finish in the top 30 in an international competition. She competed in the Olympics again in 1992. She raced in slalom and giant slalom events. As of 2014, she is still the only Black woman to ski competitively in the Olympic Games.
Activism and Important Choices
Seba Johnson is also a strong activist. In 1989, she was disqualified from a ski race. This happened because she refused to wear a suit made with wool and leather. She chose not to wear it because she is a vegan.
Seba qualified for the 1994 Winter Olympics. However, she decided not to compete. She did this to protest Norway's decision to start whaling again. Whaling is hunting whales. She also asked the IOC to challenge Japan. She wanted Japan to stop hunting whales and dolphins. This was before the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
Seba has also spoken out against unfair treatment. She criticized the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. She spoke about a law in Russia that was unfair to gay people.
Life After Skiing
Seba stopped competing in skiing in 1992. She wanted to study fine arts at Howard University. She also wanted to teach young people about health and animal welfare. She faced some unfair treatment as a Black skier. This was part of her decision to retire early.
Seba is a member of the Screen Actors Guild. This means she has appeared in commercials and TV shows. She lives in Los Angeles. She has worked as a special education assistant. Seba is also a Certified Yoga Teacher. She continues to travel and give speeches around the world. She talks about her experiences and her beliefs.
You can see Seba Johnson's skis in a special exhibit. They are on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.
