Maryan Hashi’s Journey in Snowboarding
In Vasteras, Sweden, Maryan Hashi vividly recalls her first experiences on the slopes of northern Sweden. As a Black woman who emigrated from Somalia, she initially felt out of place, grappling with feelings of alienation. She questioned whether she was dressed appropriately and if she belonged among the predominantly white skiers and snowboarders. Despite her initial hesitations, Hashi pushed herself to continue.
“If I didn’t, I feared I’d miss out on committing to anything in my life,”
she reflected.
Snowboarding as a Passion and Community Bridge
Now, at 30 years old, snowboarding has become Hashi’s passion and serves as a significant bridge to the Swedish community. She hopes to inspire other migrants to share in this joy. Over recent years, Europe has seen a notable increase in immigration, particularly from Africa and the Middle East, enriching its cultural landscape. This diversity is reflected in popular sports like soccer, where the Swedish national team showcases players of diverse backgrounds, such as Liverpool’s striker Alexander Isak.
Underrepresentation in Winter Sports
However, the same cannot be said for winter sports, as the upcoming Milan Cortina Winter Olympics will feature a Swedish team predominantly made up of ethnically Swedish athletes, with the notable exception of Mika Zibanejad, an NHL player of Iranian descent. This lack of representation starkly contrasts with the diverse population of Sweden, where approximately 2 million individuals, nearly one-fifth of the 10 million residents, were born abroad, many from African and Asian countries.
The issue of underrepresentation of athletes of color in winter sports has not attracted as much attention in Europe as it has in the United States, where the Olympic team is one of the most diverse. Other winter sports nations like France and Germany mirror Sweden’s lack of diversity among their athletes, as they too present predominantly white rosters.
Barriers to Participation
Experts attribute this lack of representation to numerous barriers, including social isolation, financial constraints, and cultural differences. Josef Fahlen, a sport pedagogy professor at Umea University, emphasizes that overcoming these challenges will require substantial time and effort, suggesting that real change may take decades.
Maryan Hashi moved to Sweden with her family when she was just 14 years old in 2009. Settling in Skelleftea, a northern mining town, she faced culture shock and language barriers, initially forming friendships with fellow migrants. In 2018, she stumbled upon a nearby ski slope after a colleague encouraged her to participate in a snowboarding project aimed at fostering integration.
“Snowboarding is often perceived as a white sport, and without proper information and community integration, it falls off the radar for immigrants,”
says Hashi, who grew to relish her time on the slopes, eventually teaching both children and skeptical friends the joys of snowboarding.
“Snowboarding is going to be part of my family,”
she declared.
Parental Influence and Accessibility
Fahlen points out that a significant factor in children’s engagement with sports is parental influence, explaining why immigrant families often do not expose their children to activities unfamiliar to them, like skiing. In contrast, sports like football—accessible and popular in many immigrants’ home countries—are much more commonly embraced.
“The visibility of winter sports athletes from diverse backgrounds is critical. It shows young people that they can pursue skiing, even if they come from a different heritage.”
Accessibility presents another hurdle as many immigrants reside in urban areas far from skiing locales, often facing financial difficulties that hinder participation in expensive winter sports.
Efforts for Inclusivity
Academics argue that winter sports organizations must take steps to enhance accessibility for immigrants and disadvantaged communities. Stefan Jonsson, an ethnicity and migration studies expert, notes that engaging children in team sports can be a powerful tool for social integration.
In response to concerns about inclusivity, Sweden’s ski federation acknowledged the need for improvement, highlighting its “Alla På Snö” (Everyone On Snow) program, which annually provides around 30,000 children with free access to skiing equipment and slopes since its inception in 2008. Additionally, the Leisure Bank initiative allows individuals to borrow sporting equipment at no cost, resembling public libraries in function.
However, neither program is specifically aimed at immigrants, leading Hashi to express concerns about missed opportunities to inspire and nurture talent.
“Open the door for us,”
Hashi urges, emphasizing a desire to help build a future generation of winter sports athletes from diverse backgrounds.
