Shariah Harris, a nurse at Lankenau Medical Center, makes history as the first Black woman to play in the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship which kicked off this past Sunday at the Port Mayaca Polo Club, writes Sharon Robb for The Palm Beach Post.

Harris, 25, is playing on the Work To Ride/Grand Champions team with Nina Clarkin, Maddie Grant, and Caitlin Cregg.

“I think I am always going to get a second look because I’m Black,” Harris said.

“I’ve been given the label ‘trailblazer,’ so if that means me opening doors for other Black women, or women of color, or women who didn’t think they could do it, and I am the one that’s able to break barriers for them to make it through, then that’s good enough for me.”

Melissa Ganzi, Grand Champions Polo Club President and the World Polo League co-founder, is sponsoring the team.

Harris was first turned onto polo through Work To Ride, a nonprofit organization in Philadelphia that provides horsemanship education and equine sports training for low-income youths, ages 7 to 18.

The nonprofit has produced many talented polo players, including Harris.

Read more about Shariah Harris and the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship in The Palm Beach Post.

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