Aja L. Evans (born 12 May 1988) is an American Olympic medalist bobsledder (two-woman) who competes as a brakeman. At her Chicago public high school she was an All-American track & field City Champion in sprints and shot put. As a college athlete she was an All-American and Big Ten Champion shot putter.
Career
Aja Evans began track and field training at Morgan Park High School[1] on the far south side of Chicago, Illinois. She attended UNLV before transferring to the University of Illinois. Evans was a college record setting, five-time All-American and three-time Big Ten Champion shot potter at the University of Illinois.[2]
Evans began competing in the bobsled after graduation. She was a brakeman for drivers Jamie Greubel, Elana Meyers, and Jazmine Fenlator in the 2012–2013 World Cup season, earning a bronze in Igls and a silver at the Sochi. In the 2013–2014 World Cup season, she earned silver at Calgary and gold at Park City.[3]
Evans was named to the U.S. Olympic bobsled team for the 2014 Winter Olympics on January 19, 2014.[4]
On February 19, 2014, Evans, along with Jamie Greubel, won the bronze medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics.
In 2023, Evans filed a lawsuit alleging that she was groped and inappropriately photographed by her team's chiropractor over a period of nearly a decade. Evans' attorney compared the doctor's conduct to that of Larry Nassar, but he denied the accusations and labeled them “detestable”.[5]
Family
Evans comes from a family of athletes. Her father, Fred, became the first black national collegiate champion in swimming when he competed for Chicago State. Her brother, also named Fred, is a defensive tackle for the Minnesota Vikings. Her uncle is retired Major League Baseball outfielder Gary Matthews and her cousin is baseball player Gary Matthews, Jr.[6]
“I’m a product of Chicago,” said Evans. “Showing people that this black girl from Chicago came to the Winter Olympic sport and really did some amazing things, and it was all because I had that will to win and it was my dream."[7]
^"Women's Track Olympians Recognized". fightingillini.com. University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics. 11 September 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
