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Famous Bobsled Teams
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Published: September 19, 2006
The "cult of personality" is ever present. There are more opportunities to be known (mostly for the sake of being known) than should be allowed. And with every advent of celebrity, eyes, cameras and sometimes hands follow. Take one look around; fame is abound.
Yet, there are moments when fame is appropriately deserved.
The world of bobsledding claims unprecedented fame in that the sport’s most famous bobsled team is a losing team: the Jamaican bobsled team.
Of course, we usually praise a bobsled team that comes away with a cup or slides right into the coveted Olympic gold.
However, at the risk of sounding cliché, “winning isn't everything.” And I'll leave the argument there.
The Jamaican bobsled team took the Olympic stage at the 1988 Calgary Winter Games. The public reaction to the idea of a Jamaican bobsled team, in the first place, was uproarious. It was the irony of all ironies. Despite all, this bobsled team trained hard for four years and found its way on the ultimate bobsled track. However, crashes and injuries plagued the four original members: Samuel Clayton, Devon Harris, Dudley Stokes and Michael White.
These same men came back to the Winter Olympics in 1994 at Lillehammer, Norway. The Jamaican bobsled team didn't garner gold but did speed ahead of the United States, Russia, Italy and France to 14th place in the four-man race, and past Sweden to 10th place in the two-man race.
The first race in 1988 was so inspirational that it prompted the Disney film Cool Runnings in 1993.
This bobsled team also made it on to the 2002 Winter Games, but disbanded before the 2006 Games.
The Jamaican bobsled team deserves every bit of fame it has attained and retained. If this bobsled team can edge its way past teams that have competed in the sport since the first Winter Olympics, then that says something: it says trying – not so much winning – is all the more worth it. This mentality is why so many people tend to celebrate an underdog victory.
Maybe, someday, the Jamaican bobsled team will win the glorious prize perseverance provides.
Sources:
Answers.com. 19 September 2006. .
Jamaicans.com. 19 September 2006. .
Yet, there are moments when fame is appropriately deserved.
The world of bobsledding claims unprecedented fame in that the sport’s most famous bobsled team is a losing team: the Jamaican bobsled team.
Of course, we usually praise a bobsled team that comes away with a cup or slides right into the coveted Olympic gold.
Related Articles
The Jamaican bobsled team took the Olympic stage at the 1988 Calgary Winter Games. The public reaction to the idea of a Jamaican bobsled team, in the first place, was uproarious. It was the irony of all ironies. Despite all, this bobsled team trained hard for four years and found its way on the ultimate bobsled track. However, crashes and injuries plagued the four original members: Samuel Clayton, Devon Harris, Dudley Stokes and Michael White.
These same men came back to the Winter Olympics in 1994 at Lillehammer, Norway. The Jamaican bobsled team didn't garner gold but did speed ahead of the United States, Russia, Italy and France to 14th place in the four-man race, and past Sweden to 10th place in the two-man race.
The first race in 1988 was so inspirational that it prompted the Disney film Cool Runnings in 1993.
This bobsled team also made it on to the 2002 Winter Games, but disbanded before the 2006 Games.
The Jamaican bobsled team deserves every bit of fame it has attained and retained. If this bobsled team can edge its way past teams that have competed in the sport since the first Winter Olympics, then that says something: it says trying – not so much winning – is all the more worth it. This mentality is why so many people tend to celebrate an underdog victory.
Maybe, someday, the Jamaican bobsled team will win the glorious prize perseverance provides.
Sources:
Answers.com. 19 September 2006. .
Jamaicans.com. 19 September 2006. .
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