Jamaican Bobsleigh Team Finishes Dead Last In 2-Man Event

Jamaica's two-man bobsleigh team came in last place during their event at the Olympics this week, but the country is still set to achieve something that hasn't been done in more than 20 years.

Shanwayne Stephens and Nimroy Turgott took on the run at the two-man event on Monday, February 14, and proved it's the taking part that counts as they finished 30th out of 30 teams.

The team drew parallels to the film Cool Runnings with the mishaps experienced during the event, in which things didn't get off to a great start, as the athlete pushing the bobsled slipped as he began to move it forwards.

He ended up falling on his back at one point and the pair struggled to find a good rhythm throughout the event, resulting in them coming dead last in first heat of the event yesterday, and last of the 30-sled field in the second run.

Jamaica will have another chance to slay on the sled as the four-man event is set to kick off this weekend, marking the first time in 24 years a four-man crew will represent Jamaica at the Olympics. Stephens will make a comeback as the pilot of the team, which also includes Matthew Wekpe, Ashley Watson and brakeman Rolando Reid.

Jamaica's participation in the event comes after the four-man team failed to qualify for the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics by just a single spot in the world rankings.

Chris Stokes, who runs the country's bobsleigh federation, told The Sun that qualifying for the Beijing Olympics was 'an absolutely amazing feeling'.

'It's something we've all achieved together as a team over the last four years. It means a lot to us, the sport and Jamaica as a whole. It's a testament to all the hard work of the athletes and coaching staff. The support from the RAF has been magnificent, they gave me the opportunity to go to my first trials and have given me the time to train. I want to thank them for that opportunity,' he said.

Stokes was part of the 1988 bobsleigh team that inspired the 1993 film Cool Runnings, in which one of the sled’s blades detaches during the final race, causing it to turn upside down and crash.

Stephens said the 2022 team has faced difficulties in training due to travel restrictions caused by Covid-19, NBC News reports, and said that to achieve what they have in 'such a short period of time is a testament to the hard work everybody has put in outside of being together'.

The four-man bobsleigh event will begin on Saturday, February 19.

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