Shariah Harris Becomes Pioneering Polo Player
Shariah Harris, a 25-year-old nurse from Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, has etched her name in the record books as the first Black woman to compete in the prestigious U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship.
Harris’ journey to this historic moment began at the age of 8 when her mother stumbled upon the Work to Ride program in Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park, a nonprofit that provides underserved youth with access to horseback riding and polo.
“My mom didn’t have money for horses,” Harris said. “Horses are a very expensive sport and polo is even more expensive, so without the program, I never would have had access to any of it.”
Overcoming Barriers and Inspiring the Next Generation
Despite being often the “only” or “first” Black player in her teams, Harris persevered, earning a polo scholarship to Cornell University and going on to compete in national and international tournaments. Her appearance at the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship this month was a watershed moment, not just for Harris, but for the entire sport.
“If you don’t see anyone who looks like you, that’s OK,” Harris advised other young, aspiring Black women in the sport. “It might not feel OK at the time, but it’s OK because you never know if you will be the catalyst for other people who look like you coming into the sport.”
A Nurse by Day, Polo Player by Passion
In addition to her historic athletic achievements, Harris also works as an operating room nurse at Lankenau Medical Center in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. Her colleagues describe her as “calm, quiet” and “not afraid of anything” – traits that serve her well both on the polo field and in the hospital.
“She’s very calm, quiet. Her demeanor is phenomenal. She’s not afraid of anything,” said Simone Nicholson, Harris’ nurse manager.
Inspiring the Next Generation of Polo Players
Harris’ success has not gone unnoticed, as young Black girls are now looking up to her as a role model. Lezlie Hiner, the founder of the Work to Ride program, emphasized the importance of having someone like Shariah to inspire the next generation.
“To me, it’s really important that they see somebody like Shariah who looks just like them,” Hiner said. “That she’s able to go to an Ivy League college, play polo at these levels. She’s confident, she’s sharp.”
