It was 1988 when crowds watched figure skater Debi Thomas jump and spin her way to becoming the first Black woman to win a medal at an Olympic Winter Games.

But nearly 40 years later, the sport has yet to see another African American win a senior national championship or attract many skaters of color.

The Diversify Ice Fellowship and Foundation is now working to make skating more accessible and show what can be achieved through mentorship, sponsorship and fun.

Joel Savary, a former figure skater and the organization’s founder, pointed to cost, bias in judging and a lack of community as factors keeping people of color out of the rink. But he said the foundation is taking the first step to fill those gaps.

“We guide them through a pathway to meet the stars,” he said. “And (we) have a great feedback loop of, ‘This is what I want to do and I can have a pathway to understand how to get there.'”

For Savary, helping coach his younger brother in the sport for many years helped him find solace.

Thomas now works alongside Savary to find ways to encourage more skaters of color. She said during her own career she found other ways to carve her path to the Olympics.

But it wasn’t until later that she understood the role she played in the history of the sport.

“When I was coming up, through skating, I think I didn't realize the impact that I had until I started getting fan mail from skaters and moms, that there are people out there that do feel like they need to identify with someone who looks like themselves,” she said. “Usually what I tell kids is, look, you don't have to see somebody who looks like you to do what you want to do in life, you know, we can't make other people sort of see us a certain way.”

Thomas is taking part in Diversify Ice’s annual Skate-Raiser, taking place Friday at the Fifth Third Arena in Chicago. The event will also feature performances from elite athletes like Starr Andrews, a public skate session and a chance to meet the skaters.