Disney’s 1993 hit Cool Runnings chronicled a bobsled team from Jamaica as they make a bid for the Winter Olympics in Canada. All this, of course, was based on the true story of the Jamaican bobsled team going to the Olympics in 1988. And now, all our 90’s dreams are coming true as a new four-man team heads to the Winter Olympics in Beijing.
That’s right, for the first time in 24 years Jamaica has qualified for the Winter Olympics. And while it is amazing they have qualified, it is more amazing what their training program was! Shanwayne Stephens, the team’s suspected pilot, has shared that because of the pandemic, “we ended up creating a home gym in my back garden out of timber and making cement weights out of buckets and stuff.” Talk about dedication!
Stephens was born in Jamaica but raised in England, and came up with another unique way to exercise and train during COVID lockdowns. The team would push a Mini Cooper around the streets in his neighborhood!
And the glory won’t just be for the four-man bobsled team. This year it will be shared with the two-man team AND the women’s brand new monobob team attending the Winter Olympics. The women’s monobob team will also be an alternate team for the two-women event, in case there is a dropout.
CREDIT: Instagram | B Mo the Prince
We know we won’t be the only ones singing along with the Jamaican’s as they tackle the Winter Olympics once again. Congrats to Team Jamaica, and don’t forget to kiss your eggs!
