Beijing 2022 Olympics: Jamaica bob, the legend continues

For years they have been a colorful and extravagant exception to the Winter Olympic Games, part of that international project that wanted to broaden the boundaries of the disciplines and bring in new nations. The Jamaica bobsleigh team at the Beijing Games say it is an honor to carry on the legacy of the pioneers who represented the Caribbean island at the 1988 Games, as recounted in the famous film “Cool Runnings”. The story of how the Jamaican 4-man bobsleigh crew defied history to compete in the Calgary Games and then immortalized in the 1993 film. For the first time since the 1988 Games, Jamaica has a four-man crew in race at these Games, with driver Shanwayne Stephens. First, however, Jamaica took part in the two-man bobsleigh, albeit with poor results (thirtieth and last, even behind Trinidad & Tobago).

“We were inspired by those who came before and will inspire the next generation,” said brakeman Ashley Watson. In the Jamaican team there is also a woman who has competed in the new individual discipline, Jazmine Fenlator-Victorian, a specialty that made her debut here in Beijing.

Unprepared

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Stephens admitted he felt unprepared to run at the Yanqing Olympic facility. “That was only our fifth and sixth time on track because we missed the test event in October,” he explained. “It’s just one of the challenges of being a smaller nation. We do not have the funds to travel and to participate in the test events “. The 31-year-old lives in Peterborough, England after his family moved there from Jamaica in 2002. When the Covid pandemic hit Europe in 2020, Stephens reacted to the closure of gyms by lifting homemade concrete weights and pushing. his girlfriend’s Mini around a parking lot, to train. “We can say that everything we have done has helped us qualify for the Games. If we had relaxed, we probably wouldn’t have made it, so we can be proud of ourselves, ”he added. “We are such a young team. Being able to qualify for the Games having met for the first time only in September is an absolutely fantastic result ”. As a sniper in the British Royal Air Force, he says that the “accuracy, precision and organization” he has learned in his daily work helps him fly the Jamaican bobsled.

Sniper

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“Guys will tell you I’m a little obsessive sometimes, I want certain things to be done a certain way,” he laughs. Jamaicans accept that the chances of medals are low. Stephens says “four consistent runs would be a great stepping stone to move forward,” with the 4-man bobsleigh closing the program. Jamaicans bring a sense of fun to the Winter Games, as witnessed when Stephens’ team made their way dancing in the opening ceremony. “We try to drag people when we have dancing,” he told her. Playful nature wins fans over. We have received messages from all over the world, not just Jamaica, ”she added. “People say they are cheering for us, as well as for their own countries. Love is real and we can’t wait to make Jamaica proud ”.