SNL’s Leslie Jones cheers up speed skater Maame Biney

Speed skater Maame Biney’s bid for Olympic glory came to an end on Saturday, but she still made a new friend in Saturday Night Live comic Leslie Jones.

The 18-year-old finished last in her 1500m short-track heat after briefly taking the lead despite Jones spurring her on from the stands.

After the event Jones was waiting to console her.

Speed skater Maame Biney’s bid for Olympic glory came to an end on Saturday, but she still made a new friend in Saturday Night Live comic Leslie Jones (right)

She put her arm around her, presented her with a ticket and led her into the arena to watch the final which she had hoped to be participating in.

Before they went in, Jones took a selfie with Maame, who despite her lack of success, made history as the first black woman to qualify for the U.S. Olympic speed skating team.

Jones said: ‘We got the same smile.’ The teenager laughed and said: ‘Yeah, we do.’

The 18-year-old finished last in her 1500m short-track heat after briefly taking the lead despite Jones spurring her on from the stands

The 18-year-old finished last in her 1500m short-track heat after briefly taking the lead despite Jones spurring her on from the stands

After the event Jones was waiting to console her, the duo pictured here together 

After the event Jones was waiting to console her, the duo pictured here together 

Jones, 50, is in Korea with NBC, who are broadcasting the Winter Olympics.

Ahead of the games Biney said ‘I am super-honored to be able to be part of this, because I know that us African American girls and women haven’t been able to be in this situation before,’ according to HuffPost.

‘I’m really honored to inspire other women, African American or any other race, to get out there and do what you can and succeed.’ 

The Olympian finished in a time of 2 minutes, 31.819 seconds in the field of six. 

In her stronger event earlier in the Games, the 500, Biney advanced out of the preliminary heats but could not overcome a slow start in her quarterfinal on Tuesday.

Maame Biney, right, of the United States races during her women's 1500 meters short track speedskating heat in the Gangneung Ice Arena at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea on Saturday 

Maame Biney, right, of the United States races during her women’s 1500 meters short track speedskating heat in the Gangneung Ice Arena at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea on Saturday 



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