Jamaican bobsled team prepares to qualify for Sochi Winter Olympics

Jamaican bobsled team in action during event in Canada in 2013. PHOTO/Paul Skog

After a 12-year absence from the Games, Jamaica are on the verge of writing another chapter in their association with the Winter Olympics. After failing to qualify in 2006 and falling short of funds in 2010, the Jamaican bobsled team is ready for a comeback – if they are able to qualify in St Moritz, Switzerland, this weekend.

Winston Watts and Marvin Dixon are expected to qualify for next month’s Winter Olympic Games in Sochi in the 2-man bobsled.

Watts, who returned to the sport from retirement in 2010 to become the new captain has previously competed in the 1994, 1998 and 2002 Winter Olympics. In 2002, he and teammate Lascelles Brown recorded an Olympic record for the fastest push-start time in the two-man bobsled, with a time of 4.78 seconds.

The team have been training in Evanston, Wyoming, with little or no funding from the Jamaican Olympic Association, but according to Watts remains optimistic that this situation may change once they qualify for Olympic games in Sochi.

The Jamaican bobsled team is currently accepting donations via their webpage.