Featured Image: The Rivers triplets. Provided by the Rivers family.
The young and determined Rivers triplets, Helaina, Henri IV, and Henniyah, are training with focus and determination to reach a milestone this upcoming season.
They have united with the goal to compete in alpine ski racing and represent Jamaica on the world stage at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
Henri IV is on the verge of qualification, needing just two more points to secure his spot. Meanwhile, Helaina and Henniyah will be competing in the South American Cup this summer for a chance to compete in Cortina.
Henri IV stated, “My sisters and I have been pushing each other through this process ever since the beginning, so having them by my side through this means the world to me.”
Competing in Alpine Ski Racing
The Rivers triplets, Helaina, Henri IV, and Henniyah, were born in the summer of 2007 in Brooklyn, New York. They were raised in Bedford-Stuyvesant by their Jamaican mother, Karen A. Rivers, and American father, Henri D. Rivers. Their parents introduced the three to winter sports shortly after their first birthday.
Their parents, both certified ski instructors and alpine race coaches, encouraged their love for snowsports, including snowtubing, sledding, ice skating, snowboarding, and skiing.
By the age of five, the triplets were actively participating in fun alpine races. Eventually, they became members of the Windham Race Factory, training most weekends at Windham Mountain in the Catskills as competitive ski racers.
The three deeply appreciate their parents’ dedication to getting them involved in alpine ski racing. Henniyah explained, “When I think of ski racing, I think of my parents and all the sacrifices they made for my siblings and me. We are so fortunate to have our biggest supporters by our side.”
Progressing to Academies and Hitting Milestones
After their fourteenth birthday, their parents enrolled them in boarding schools in the Northeast, where the curriculum balances academic studies with vigorous athletic schedules.
Helaina and Henniyah both attend Holderness School in New Hampshire, while Henri IV attends Stratton Mountain School in Vermont.
Going to these academies allows them to get on snow about six days a week during the winter and receive comprehensive coaching and strength and conditioning.
With the ability to engage in high-level performance training, Henniyah and Henri IV were able to compete in the 2024 Youth Olympic Games in Gangwon, South Korea. Giving them a taste of what it feels like to represent Jamaica at an international event.
Excitement for Milano Cortina 2026
The triplets know that earning a place at the Olympic Winter Games will require relentless dedication, but this is the dream they’ve chased for as long as they can remember. They’re prepared, deeply grateful, and thrilled to embrace the challenge ahead.
Helaina stated, “Going to the Olympics is something I have dreamed about since I was little, and it is an absolute honor being able to represent the country of Jamaica. It means the world to me, and I am extremely grateful to have this opportunity [to compete for a spot].”
Her sister, Henniyah, feels similar: “Competing for the 2026 Winter Olympics is really important to me and special for me because I get to give back to my parents, especially my mom, as we represent her homeland, Jamaica. I am excited to continue this journey.”
With Henri IV’s close qualification, he is processing his goals for the next season. He stated, “My goals for this next season are to keep building, stay consistent, and enjoy this process.”
In 2025, they will all be graduating from high school, which will shift their attention completely to preparing for the upcoming Olympic Games. The 2026 Olympic Winter Games are scheduled from February 6th to February 22nd, 2026.
About the Author: Ellie Hartman
