Original version

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

The Conversation

Factual: Life Stories

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Two women from different parts of the world, united by a common passion, experience or expertise, share the stories of their lives.

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service South Asia

BBC World Service East Asia

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

The Conversation: Winter athletes

Magazines & Reviews

(L) Lindsey Van (credit: Lars Baron/Getty Images) and (R) Simidele Adeagbo (credit: Candice Ward)

Winter athletes

BBC World Service - The Conversation, Winter athletes

The athlete who fought for women's ski jumping to be included in the Winter Olympics, and the first African woman to compete in Olympic skeleton.

Women making history on the snow and ice. Kim Chakanetsa meets two female athletes who are pioneers in their winter sports. 

Simidele Adeagbo is a Nigerian who is the first African woman to compete in the skeleton category of the Winter Olympics. Originally a track and field athlete, she set out to break barriers in winter sports but was faced with the challenge of no snow or tracks to practise on. The first time she touched a skeleton sled was in 2017, but she qualified for the Pyeongchang Games earlier this year.  

Lindsey Marie Van is a veteran of women's ski jumping, and was instrumental in fighting for its inclusion in the Olympics. Lindsey campaigned and was part of a gender discrimination lawsuit.  After 90 years of male ski jumping, one competition was finally added for women at the 2014 Sochi games (men have three chances to compete). After this huge victory, Lindsey's recurrent knee injury forced her to retire. The Utah athlete was, however, a 16-time national champion and the 2009 world champion.

(L) Lindsey Van (credit: Lars Baron/Getty Images)
(R) Simidele Adeagbo (credit: Candice Ward)

Accessibility links

Programme Index

The Conversation

Winter athletes

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

About BBC World Service