In 1988, Jamaica, a warm, Caribbean country entered a four-man bobsled team in the Calgary Winter Olympics.
Five years later, the team was immortalized in the Disney movie Cool Runnings, a fantastic funny flick, well worth your time. While the movie got many things wrong (for example, the crash happened in the qualifiers, the team was never in the running for a medal), it helped create a legend.
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| Devon Harris, a member of the 1988, 1992, and 1998 Jamaican Bobsled team, now travels the world as a motivational speaker. (Wikimedia) |
Jamaica returned to the Winter Olympics with a four-man team in 1992, 1994, and 1998, and offered a two-man team in 2002. The Jamaicans failed to qualify in 2006 and 2010.
But now, the Jamaican bobsled team is back at the Sochi Olympics with a two-man team.
Winston Watts, who was part of the 1994 and 1994 four-man and the 2002 two-man team, and his brakeman Marvin Dixon qualified by competing in a number of smaller events over the past year. But qualifying was just the start. Getting to the Olympics is an expensive proposition and the Jamaican team didn't have enough money to make it.
But two things have saved them: the Legend and the Internet.
Thanks to the movie, the entire world knows of Jamaica's bobsled team and, with the unifying power of the Internet, fundraisers were set up to help the Jamaicans make it to Sochi. The goal was 80,000 dollars, but as the world came out in support, the Jamaicans were able to raise 120,000 dollars to get them to Sochi.
The Jamaicans are certainly not the favorites for the two-man bobsled, but they have impressed many with their upbeat attitude and bright smiles. Late luggage and bad conditions are no match for this indomitable team.
For a smile, check out this video of a dance-off between the Jamaican bobsled team and the American women's bobsled team.
The two-man bobsled competition will take place on the 16th and 17th, with the gold medal run scheduled for 11a E on the 17th.
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