Bigger Than The Game: Cool Runnings

Happy Birthday Bob!

In honor of Robert Nesta Marley’s birthday and the opening ceremonies for the Sochi Olympics tonight (in the US), I thought I might post a brief history of Jamaica’s sole contribution to world of arctic sports. Bobsledding. If you are a certain age, you are likely familiar with John Candy coaching to Doug E. Doug, Leon, and Rawle D. Lewis to Olympic…..defeat, but the team’s history has been marked by reasonable success.

The team was initially founded by American businessmen George Fitch  (now mayor of Warrenton, Virginia) and William Maloney. Originally interested in Jamaica's push-cart culture, the two recognized that the nation’s sprinters would serve valuable speed in the bobsled’s push starts. The 1988 team finished dead last at the Calgary games, but gained attention as the game's underdogs story.


As the Sochi games are set to start today, the team has hit yet another obstacle in that their gear has yet to make it to Russia due to missed connections and bad weather

Hardly a powerhouse program, the Jamaicans have placed as high as 14th and bet the likes of the United States, Russia, Australia, France, and two sleds from Canada.  Success has, however, found the two man teams. At the Park City games in 2002, Winston Watt (pilot) and Lascelles Brown (brakeman), set the Park City bobsled track record and the Olympic record for the push-start segment of the 2-man race at 4.78 seconds

Say what you will about the Jamaicans, or any other athlete from a warm-climate country, I for one respect their integrity and courage.  They take their natural ability and apply it to a different purpose.  The Jamaican bobsledders are not likely to medal in Sochi, but they have risen above cultural stereotypes, lack of funds, and Disney movies to make it to the Olympics.  That is something to tip your hat to.

The 1988 Team in Calgary

The 2014 Team At An Olympic Qualifier