As Jamaica gears up for its tenth Winter Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina 2026, the bobsleigh team is poised to continue the inspiring legacy initiated nearly four decades ago during the 1988 Calgary Olympics which inspired the beloved film Cool Runnings. The team will compete in both the men’s and women’s bobsleigh events from February 15 to 22.
New faces in the lineup
In the women’s monobob event, Mica Moore, a former athlete from Great Britain who has switched her allegiance to Jamaica, will proudly represent the nation. The men’s team will feature two crews: the four-man bobsleigh team composed of Shane Pitter, Andrae Dacres, Junior Harris, and Tyquendo Tracey. In the two-man event, Pitter will take on the role of driver, with the brakeman to be chosen from Joel Fearon, Junior Harris or Nimroy Turgott.
A legacy of resilience and inspiration
The journey of Jamaica’s bobsleigh team began with the historic debut of driver Dudley Stokes, brakeman Michael White, and push athletes Devon Harris and Chris Stokes. This initial quartet represented Jamaica in the four-man bobsleigh, emerging from a selection process that included athletes training for the 1988 Seoul Olympics, as well as members of the Jamaican army.
“Those athletes’ example has also encouraged other warm-weather nations, such as Mexico, Puerto Rico and Brazil, to establish their own bobsleigh teams.”
George Fitch, a commercial attaché at the US Embassy in Kingston, is credited as the visionary behind what he described as “tropical” bobsleigh. The athletes were an unconventional mix: White was a sprinter, Harris specialized in the 800 meters, and Dudley Stokes originally trained as a helicopter pilot. Despite their initial struggles, the team’s participation in Calgary captured the world’s attention, even leading to the creation of Cool Runnings, a film that, while fictionalized, remains a significant part of Jamaica’s bobsleigh narrative.
The team’s early training involved innovative methods, using improvised street carts to practice explosive starts. The inspiration to form the Jamaican bobsleigh team came during a traditional downhill cart race, where Fitch and entrepreneur William Maloney recognized the potential of the island’s exceptional sprinting talent in a winter sport. Initial training sessions under American coach Pat Brown proved to be challenging, but the athletes’ unwavering determination caught the eye of the international federation, paving the way for Jamaica’s participation in Calgary.
Despite setbacks, including the injury of crew member Allen Caswell right before the competition, Jamaica made a lasting impression. Stokes, who had initially traveled to support his brother, stepped in as a replacement. Although the results saw their two-man sled finishing 30th and the four-man team’s run ending in a dramatic crash during a crucial heat, the team’s story became an integral part of Olympic history. Jamaica’s highest finish remains a commendable 14th place in the men’s two-man bobsleigh at the Lillehammer 1994 Games.
As the sport evolves, particularly with the addition of the women’s monobob, new opportunities are emerging for Jamaica’s bobsleigh program. This evolution is allowing the team to adopt a more structured and long-term approach, promising to keep the spirit of Cool Runnings alive on the Olympic stage.