Jamaica Women Bobsled Team, South Korea
Jamaica Bobsled Team as Jazmine Fenlator-Victorian and Carrie Russell will represent Jamaica’s first female bobsled team in the 2018 Winter Olympics. Kerstin Joensson/AP)
30 Years Since Calgary Olympics
It’s been 30 years already? No way, Wow! Yes really, 30 years since Jamaica’s men bobsled team qualified for the Olympics game in Calgary Canada. It was 1988 when the men’s team took the world by storm, now Jamaica Women Bobsled Team is doing it all over. The story was so well received and hart felt, it inspired Walt Disney Pictures in the making of the movie, “Cool Runnings”.
Now fast forward to 2018, 30 years later, Jamaica’s Women Bobsled Team has qualified for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyongyang, South Korea. As the story unfolds, it’s quite possible that we are writing a new script, “Cool Runnings II”, stay tuned.
Bobsleigh is a winter Sport
Interestingly enough, Bobsleigh is a winter sport started in Switzerland where the weather is cold. On the other hand Jamaica is the complete opposite known for its hot weather. When it comes to Olympics sports, Jamaica is synonymous with track and field. As Sports Illustrator fittingly wrote an article many years ago titled, “Land of Sprinters and Dreamers”, not Bobsledders.
Jamaica’s First Women Bobsled Team Pic from Acupuncture Central
Jamaica’s Women Bobsleigh Team Qualifying Race
Just the thought of a team from Jamaica competing in a winter sport is impressive. Well, not only did they compete, but the women bobsledders also qualified for the winter game. Starting with Pilot Jazmine Fenlator-Victorian along with pusher and brake women Carrie Russell and Audra Segree respectively, these athletics will be at the 2018 Olympic Game in Pyongyang. The notion of the qualification round happening in St. Moritz, Switzerland the place where the first Bobsleigh club was found is significant within itself. Could this be, “Destiny, movement of Jah people”? Who knows, one thing for certain, it’s pretty historic.
After the team finished in 13th place ahead of Romania at Cresta Run track, they became an automatic bid for the top-twenty spot at the Olympics. Of course, what makes victory sweet is the agony along the way. The early problems they faced were not because of skills or athleticism but more about their mechanics. The team needed to make certain adjustment on their techniques to turned agony into ecstasy. They were able to survive the rough patches in Germany as former retired German bobsledder and Coach Sandra Kiriasis, worked with her team and turn things around.
The hard work paid off as the team recovered in San Moritz. As they stated, “…the first four races were not good…” The team was able to make the adjustments and turned it around in San Mortz on their way to qualifying.
Birth of bobsled in Jamaica
Thinking back on the birth of bobsled in Jamaica and how the idea came about. Jamaica is known for using pushcarts to move stuff from point A, to point B. Soon after persons started using pushcarts to compete in races as well as for private stalls for vendors to sell their goods and the popularity gained momentum. It was through those channels that the seed was planted to transfer that skill set into bobsled race. So that idea became the brainchild of two business men who connect the dots. Then they had the audacity to believe they could achieve with endless possibilities.
These business men knew the climate of hot and sunny hot Jamaica but had the vision of competing in a cold climate competition. This type of ambitious agenda will always generate plenty of excitement. Well, Jamaica’s 2018 women Olympics Bobsled team is kicking up that dust. For starters, they are the first women bobsled team to represent Jamaica. Secondly, their timing could not be better as women power is being echoed loudly around the world and they believe in themselves.
Jamaica’s First Women Bobsled 2018. Team brakewoman Carrie Russell, pilot Jazmine Fenlator-Victorian and brakewoman Audra Segree goin to, South Korea. Pic, from Jamaica Bobsled Team FB.
Cinderella story
Some people may be thinking here we go again, another Cinderella story. They are confident none of their competitors will take team Jamaica lightly. Certainly, Jazmine, Carrie and Audra know they have to bring their “A” game if they are going to have any fighting chance of winning. This will be the eleventh Winter Olympics games Jamaica has participated in and so far, the country is still waiting for their first medal.
The great news is that even though it’s the first time this team is going to the Olympics, they come with world class experience. Bobsled pilot Jazmine Fenlator-Victorian drove in the 2014 Sochi Games for the USA, while Carrie Russell is a gold medal winner in track and field. Audra Segree another track & field star will bring her competitive capabilities.
According to Jazmine as she was speaking to a broadcaster at NBC Network, the team is made up of “experienced world-class elite athletes.” She went on to say, “Although my breaks women may have limited experience in bobsleigh, (they) are some of the most elite athletes with mental toughness.” Coach Sandra Kiriasis believe in her team as she prepares for Pyongyang, South Korea
Could this be the Year
As Jamaicans reminisce on 1988 pass bobsled team with Devon Harris, Dudley Stokes, Michael White, Freddy Powell and Chris Stokes they remain upbeat of a bright future. So the entire country of Jamaica and the love around the world for Jamaica and the Jamaican team will all be routing for the ladies success.