When you think of Jamaica at the Winter Olympics, everyone’s mind usually goes to the same place. The 1993 Disney film "Cool Runnings," depicting the journey of the rag-tag bobsled team that became the first group of athletes to represent the country at the Winter Olympics, was a box office and critical hit. And the real-life group was an inspiring team itself.

But that’s not where the story ends. Since that initial group of four, 22 more Jamaicans have gone to the Winter Olympics, including three women and four athletes who have participated in a sport other than bobsled. Ever since the country made its Winter Olympic debut in Calgary in 1988, Jamaica has been represented every time except 2006.

The Rivers family has been a part of elevating those numbers, and they nearly raised them even higher at Milan Cortina. Triplets Henniyah, Helaina and Henri Rivers IV — born minutes apart — almost became the first set of triplets to compete at the Winter Olympics.

Henniyah and Helaina would have been the first Jamaican women to compete in a Winter Olympic sport other than bobsled. While they came up just short, their brother Henri was able to make the cut and is set to compete in Monday’s Alpine skiing men’s slalom event.

“A wave of pride is definitely going to hit me,” Henri said in a statement. “You know, ‘You did it, you accomplished what you dreamed about.’ It’s going to be a very, very good day for me.”

Rivers IV is one of the youngest athletes in the entire skiing field at just 18 years old. Born in Long Island, New York, the siblings are connected to Jamaica by their mom, Karen, who was born there before immigrating to the United States at a young age. She and her husband, Henri Rivers III, are both ski instructors, giving the siblings a natural entry into the sport.

However, success for Rivers IV and his family isn’t just defined by what happens on the slopes. His father is head of the National Brotherhood of Snowsports. Founded over 50 years ago by African American skiers Ben Finley and Art Clay, the organization strives to identify, develop and support skiers from diverse backgrounds to grow representation in the sport. Rivers III has been involved with the group since 1996 — over a decade before his children were born — and was named president in 2020.

There is a steep price to pay to pursue an Olympic dream. Usually, that’s talked about in terms of time spent, the grind of training, the fatigue of traveling to different camps and qualifying events. But it overlooks a simple but important fact: Reaching the Olympics simply costs a lot of money.

That’s especially true in winter sports, which can only be done in specialized environments (either indoor ice rinks or outdoor areas with snow), many of which have limited facilities, especially in warm-weather areas.

Olympic Solidarity scholarships are one way that rising stars like the Rivers triplets are able to turn their dreams into reality. Available for all national Olympic committees, but prioritizing smaller NOCs and gender parity, these scholarships made it possible for nearly 500 athletes to pave their road to Milan Cortina. Over a four-year period from 2025-28, it will allocate $650 million, funded by revenue from the Olympics.

Though his sisters hoped they would also be competing in Bormio, Henniyah and Helaina aren’t deterred. Their dreams have been delayed, not denied — a family affair in the French Alps for the 2030 Olympics is where their focus is shifting. But it isn’t there yet.

“I told him, it’s not just going to be you”, said Henniyah about her brother's run on Monday. “We’re still going to be there. We’ll be by your side even when you’re racing."

Rivers IV has already gotten to soak in the spotlight of the Olympics, as he and bobsledder Mica Moore served as flagbearers for the Opening Ceremony on Feb. 6. On Monday, Henri will be the second Jamaican to compete in Alpine skiing. Benjamin Alexander created this new path when he competed in the giant slalom at the 2022 Beijing Olympics. And now, Rivers IV — and perhaps his sisters later — can grow it even further.

“Without them, I wouldn’t be the skier I am today,” he of his siblings. “I'm really grateful for having them in my life."