Darryl Payne Jr. is a former Team USA Skeleton athlete who began the sport at age 25 and rose to be ranked as high as 4th in the United States by 32. Throughout his career, he pursued becoming the first Black American man to represent the U.S. in Olympic Skeleton, helping expand visibility and representation for Black athletes in winter sports.
After opening doors and elevating the conversation around access in winter athletics, Darryl has shifted his focus toward returning to school to become a Physical Therapist. He is committed to specializing in sport performance, particularly in the developmental stages of strength and speed, with the goal of building resilient, high-performing athletes at every level.