By Lois Elfman
(Source: AmsterdamNews)
Bobsled brakeman Azaria Hill of the U.S. Olympic bobsled team grew up the proud child of two Olympic medalists: mother Denean Howard-Hill, a three-time Olympian and winner of a gold and two silver medals, and father Virgil Hill, an Olympic silver medalist in boxing. In addition, her aunt, Sherri Howard, is an Olympian with gold and silver medals.
“I’ve dreamed of being an Olympian since I could understand the meaning of the Olympics, since I knew my parents and my aunt were Olympians,” said Hill, 27, who will be the brakeman for pilo0t Kaysha Love in the two-woman bobsled. “Every ‘What do you want to be when you grow up project’ was ‘I want to be an Olympian.’ Twenty-two years I’ve been dreaming of this moment.”
Much like her mother and aunt, Hill was a track athlete, establishing school records at Long Beach State University. She finished her college career at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas (UNLV), where Love was a teammate. After finishing school in 2021, both found their way into bobsled.
Hill is in the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program (WCAP), which she joined in 2024, saying it has been integral to her Olympic pursuit. She went through 10 weeks of basic training and six weeks of job training, after which she was stationed at the Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid. Soon after arrival, she had to achieve a qualifying time so she could make that season’s World Cup team.
Four of the six women named to the Olympic bobsled team are African American. “It’s nice for young kids to see that representation, especially in winter sports,” Hill said. “It’s wonderful to see the diversity, and it’s growing.”
Hill said track athletes now have bobsled as an option for continuing to pursue their athletic dreams. While she picked up bobsled quickly, achieving this level has taken time, patience, persistence, and careful planning. Over time, she developed confidence. USA Bobsled and Skeleton likes to have the brakemen pair with different pilots, and Hill has learned from each pilot. Her work ethic reflects the Olympic mindset that has surrounded her since childhood.
“For the dream finally coming to fruition, it validates all the hard work, sacrifice, sleepless nights, and sometimes the doubt,” said Hill, whose family will be in Milan Cortina. “It shows never giving up on your dream; you can achieve those things.”
