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The Power of Three

The Rivers triplets—Henniyah, Helaina, and Henri IV—are working toward their goal of skiing in the Olympics.

February 2026
Chava Pearl Lansky

Shutterstock.com (Background); Photography by Diane Allford

From left: Henniyah, Helaina, and Henri

As you read, ask yourself: How has being siblings who share a dream impacted the triplets’ journey?

Triplets Henniyah and Helaina Rivers and Henri Rivers IV all have distinct personalities and interests. Henniyah likes to write and make TikToks. Helaina loves spending time outside and swimming. And Henri enjoys playing video games and hanging with friends. But there’s one thing that they all have in common (besides their birthday): a passion for alpine skiing. Also called downhill skiing, this sport involves racing down snow-covered slopes.

The 18-year-old triplets’ commitment to the sport has taken them from their childhood home in West Babylon, New York, to specialized boarding schools and now to training facilities around the world. Their next stop? They hope it will be the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, hosted this month in Italy.

If they make it, they’ll be breaking boundaries: both as triplets and as representatives of Jamaica, their mom’s home country. Read on to learn how Henri, Helaina, and Henniyah are supporting each other while pursuing this shared goal.

Courtesy of Family

Sisters Helaina and Henniyah are used to competing against each other.

Raised on the Slopes

The Rivers triplets started skiing in upstate New York when they were toddlers. “At that point it was just playing in the snow and having fun,” says Henniyah. The sport came naturally to them, and by age 5, they were competing. Henri remembers his first ski race: “There was a little jump on the side, so I went out, hit the jump, and got right back into the course,” he says. “Everyone was laughing, and I won.”

Over the years, the trio fell in love with skiing—and the sense of community it provided. Helaina, Henniyah, and Henri grew close with their teammates, and they fondly remember days drinking hot chocolate in the lodge, trying out new trails, and traveling to other mountains for races. But the triplets, who are Black, also stood out.

“Skiing is a predominantly White sport,” explains Helaina. The sport became popular in the U.S. in the early 1900s thanks to Americans who’d spent time at luxury European ski resorts and wanted to re-create those experiences at home. This vision left out people of color. Many early ski clubs only allowed White members. The skiing world is still working to overcome those exclusionary roots. A survey conducted by the National Ski Areas Association showed that in the 2022-23 season, 88.1 percent of skiers in the U.S. were White, and only 1.5 percent were Black.

The Rivers siblings are advocating for greater diversity in the sport. Along with their parents, they’re active in the National Brotherhood of Snowsports (NBS), an organization that supports athletes of color and works to make skiing schools and competitions more diverse. The triplets compete as part of the NBS team and attend the group’s annual summit. “It’s like a second family,” says Henri.

Courtesy of Family

The triplets’ parents introduced them to skiing.

Out on Their Own

When it was time to start high school, Helaina, Henniyah, and Henri decided to attend boarding schools where they could focus on skiing. Helaina and Henniyah went to school together. Though they were on the same ski team, they also competed against each other. This was something they were used to, and they never let it get in the way of their relationship. “We don’t get into fights,” says Helaina.

“At the end of the day, one of us is going to beat the other,” adds Henniyah.

Meanwhile Henri, who went to a different school, had to learn to thrive without having his sisters nearby. “I didn’t realize how much I depended on my sisters until I got to boarding school,” he says. “I called them a lot.”

At school, the siblings learned how to balance schoolwork and skiing and how to keep their bodies in shape year-round to prepare for ski season. They did daily weight training, stretching, and conditioning. They also cross-trained by playing other sports, like soccer, cross-country, and rowing.

When the triplets turned 16, they registered for licenses to compete in international races. They decided to ski for Jamaica. “We’re proud to represent our mom’s home country,” says Helaina. “Jamaica isn’t known for winter sports. We’re doing something different.” In 2024, Henri and Henniyah skied for Jamaica at the Winter Youth Olympic Games in South Korea. (Helaina was injured and couldn’t attend.) “Being able to wave the Jamaican flag at the opening ceremony was surreal,” reflects Henri.

Going For Gold

Now the triplets are hoping to represent their roots on an even bigger stage: the 2026 Olympics. They graduated from high school last spring and are taking a year to train by competing in as many races as they can. The challenge is to follow the snow. “A lot depends on the weather,” explains Helaina.

Do they think they’ll make it to Italy? The answer was uncertain at time of publication. But if they don’t make it this year, the triplets won’t be discouraged. Instead, they’ll set their sights on the 2030 Olympics.

No matter what happens, college will bring new challenges: Henniyah plans to study criminology, Helaina will focus on environmental science, and Henri wants to major in business and sports management. And it goes without saying that they’ll compete on their schools’ ski teams while keeping their Olympic dreams alive.

“It’s going to be historic, triplets representing Jamaica,” says Helaina.

“We’re pioneers,” adds Henniyah. “I hope this is the start to new beginnings. That’s what I’m excited for.”

Tips for a Competition Mindset

Diane Allford

Breathing: When nerves come up, the triplets focus on taking big, deep breaths. “Breathe. Just breathe,” suggests Henri.

Music: Henniyah, Helaina, and Henri all prepare for races by listening to specific playlists to set the mood. “I listen to my favorite artists on the chairlift to hype me up and calm my nerves down,” says Henniyah.

Routines: Helaina swears by sticking to the same routine before every race: She eats a fueling breakfast and lays out her race outfit the night before. “I wear my favorite ski socks and my gray neck warmer,” she adds.

Mantras: Henniyah repeats mantras to herself to stay focused. “I stay away from mantras that have ‘don’t’ in them,” she says. “Instead, I’ll say something like, ‘Henniyah, you are capable. You can finish.’”

REFLECTION PROMPT

What can you learn from the Rivers triplets about pursuing a long-term goal?

Life Skills
Goal Setting

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