The rhythm of the steel runners on the ice echoed a familiar Caribbean heartbeat this week at the Cortina Sliding Centre. Jamaica’s 4-man bobsled team officially concluded their Olympic campaign, finishing 21st in a highly competitive field. While they missed the final heat—reserved for the top 20—their presence in Italy served as a powerful reminder of the nation’s enduring legacy on ice.
The Road to Milano Cortina
Led by pilot Junior Harris and a powerhouse crew including Tyquendo Tracey, Shane Pitter, and the veteran Joel Fearon, the Jamaican sled faced a technical and fast track. In Heat 1, the team clocked a 55.28, placing them 23rd. They showed improved form in Heat 2 with a 55.45, bumping their overall standing to 21st.
Ultimately, they missed the “Final 20” cut by a agonizingly slim margin, ending their Olympic journey just before the fourth and final run.
A Legacy Built on Defiance: Past Achievements
The story of Jamaican bobsledding is inextricably linked to the 1988 Calgary Games, where the original “Cool Runnings” crew captured the world’s imagination. Though they famously crashed, they proved that a tropical nation could compete in winter sports.
Since then, the program has reached impressive heights:
- Lillehammer 1994: Jamaica’s 4-man team stunned the world by finishing 14th, ahead of powerhouse nations like the United States and Russia.
- PyeongChang 2018: The debut of the Jamaican women’s team marked a historic expansion of the program.
- Beijing 2022: Jamaica qualified three separate sleds for the first time in history, signaling a new era of depth for the Jamaica Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation.
How It’s Going Now: Evolution on the Ice
The 21st-place finish in 2026 reflects a sport that has become increasingly dominated by high-tech engineering and massive budgets. While the German teams—led by gold medalist Johannes Lochner—benefit from world-class wind-tunnel testing and custom sleds, the Jamaicans have focused on pure athleticism.
Today, the program is more professional than ever. By recruiting elite sprinters like Tyquendo Tracey, the team has maintained some of the fastest “push times” in the world. The challenge remains securing the consistent funding and high-tech equipment necessary to bridge the gap between the top 20 and the podium.
The Spirit of the “Hustle”
Finishing 21st may not come with a medal, but for Jamaica, the victory is in the qualification. Competing in the 4-man, 2-man, and monobob events at Milano Cortina proves that 1988 wasn’t a fluke—it was a foundation. As the team looks toward 2030, the “Fire on Ice” continues to burn, proving that the underdog spirit is alive and well in the mountains of Italy.
Jamaica’s presence at the
Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics was marked by a historic three-sled qualification, including a standout performance in the women’s monobob and competitive runs in the men’s events.
Mica Moore’s Historic Monobob Run
Mica Moore delivered Jamaica’s most successful result of the 2026 Games, finishing 14th overall in the women’s monobob.
- Record-Equaling Performance: Her 14th-place finish Mica Moore – Jamaica Observer equals the highest-ever Olympic ranking for any Jamaican bobsled athlete, matching the legendary 1994 4-man team’s achievement in Lillehammer.
- Strong Finish: Despite a “turbulent” third heat, Moore executed a redemption run in Heat 4 with a time of 59.92 seconds—her only sub-one-minute run of the competition—and a top speed of 124.81 km/h. +3
Men’s 2-Man Bobsled Results
The duo of Shane Pitter (pilot) and Junior Harris(brakeman) concluded their 2-man campaign in 22nd place.
- Heat Progression: They entered the third heat in 23rd place and improved their standing by one spot after a “resilient” final run of 55.97 seconds, their personal best of the Games.
- Cut-off: Like the 4-man team, they narrowly missed the top-20 cut required to advance to the fourth and final medal round.
