Jamaican bobsleigh team train in Bath ahead of Winter Olympics
They're getting their last chances before flying to Beijing
Last updated 25th Jan 2022
Jamaica's Olympic bobsleighing team are finalising their preparations ahead of the Winter Olympics next month.
The team from the Caribbean island nation have been training in Bath before flying out to Beijing, China on Friday.
Bath is home to the UK's only outdoor push-start track, and is currently owned by the city's university.
Despite being from the sunny country in the Caribbean Sea, Jamaica's bobsleigh team is steeped in history, making their debut at the 1988 Games in Calgary.
A hit film inspired by the team's journey to the Games and performance while competing - "Cool Runnings" - proved a box office hit, earning over $150 million worldwide.
The four-man team finished in 14th place at the Games, but now 24 years on, a new team is looking to beat the high score.
Matthew Wekpe, one of the country's bobsleighing team, told Bauer Media that they have their eyes on a podium finish.
"Twenty four years ago, the four-man team finished 14th and that's our aim - if we can better that," he said.
"We want to get the gold; who doesn't want to get to the Games and not want a medal? That's what we want, but I think it's important that we show progression as a nation."
Nimroy Turgott, another bobsleigh team member, said he was proud to be representing his nation on such a big stage.
He said: "We're not just there to be participating, we're actually here to compete and show the world that Jamaica can compete in winter sports."
Similarly to their 1988 team, the group also have a lucky egg to carry with them on their journey to China.
Mr Wekpe said that he and fellow member Shanwayne Stephens had thought about finding an egg but couldn't find a suitable one.
But when they were loading a van with their equipment on the way to a competition, the men discovered the egg near thawed snow and have kept it as a lucky charm since.