14 Facts About Seba Johnson

Seba Johnson is an African American Olympic athlete, actress, and vegan animal rights activist.

Seba Johnson was the first black woman to ski at the Olympics, and the youngest alpine ski racer in Olympic history.

Seba Johnson's father was a Tutsi tribesman from Burundi, Africa, and her mother, Suzy, a New Hampshire native, raised Johnson and her half-sister exclusively.

Seba Johnson spent her childhood traveling with her family to numerous countries, living for a time in New Hampshire and Maine, and later moving to Stateline, Nevada, on the shore of Lake Tahoe.

At age 14, Seba Johnson represented the Virgin Islands in giant slalom and Super-G at the 1988 Winter Olympics, where she became the youngest alpine ski racer and first black female skier in Olympic history.

Seba Johnson was the flag bearer in the opening ceremony.

At age 15, Seba Johnson became the first black ski racer to finish in the top 30 in international competition.

Seba Johnson competed again for the Virgin Islands in slalom and giant slalom at the 1992 Winter Olympics.

In 1989, Seba Johnson was disqualified from a World Cup ski race for refusing to wear a suit containing wool and leather.

Seba Johnson petitioned the IOC to challenge Japan to end whale and dolphin hunting before the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

Seba Johnson has spoken out against homophobia, criticizing the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia for the "horrid anti-gay law that now exists in that host country".

Seba Johnson retired from athletic competition in 1992 to pursue an education in fine arts at Howard University, and to educate youth about health and animal welfare.

Seba Johnson is a member of the Screen Actors Guild, and has appeared in commercials and television productions.

Seba Johnson's skis are on display in the first exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.