T&T Bobsleigh Make Olympic History
The Trinidad and Tobago bobsleigh team have made history with their performance in the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.
Finishing in 28th place, they are the highest-ranking Winter Olympians from T&T ever. The team of Axel Brown, Shakeel John, and Andre Marcano took to the biggest stage in sport and represented T&T with pride and passion and surprised the world with their performance.
Despite nursing a torn tendon in his knee, Andre was still able to push Axel to a competitive start. The pair knew going in that their chances of a medal were all but none-existent, and even their modest goal of a top-20 was looking hard to achieve with the presence of the injuries. However, the duo was not deterred and thanks to an almost faultless drive by Axel they were able to make up a wealth of time in the track on their immediate competitors.
After the first day of competition the T&T bobsleigh team was ranked in 27th, ahead of Team USA and just behind the Russian Olympic Committee team. This was a badge of honor in itself. For a small Caribbean nation to be at the winter Olympics sandwiched between two power houses of the Games in the USA and Russia is a statement in itself.
At the top of the track on the second day, TTOC president Mr Brian Lewis asked Axel “How does that make you feel” when looking at the T&T sled nestled between that of the USA and Russia. It was clear in that moment the impact this team was having on the landscape of world bobsleigh. But more than that the pride with which Trinis around the world were able to watch their team in the most unlikely of sports.
The finishing position of the team was almost inconsequential. Every member of the team, both those on ice but also the huge amount of people that directly helped the team, was able to feel success on a par with a medal. There have been so many hurdles, and at times it looked nearly impossible to create, build and then qualify a team for the Olympics in just 6 months.
However, with the crossing of the finish line, the team was able to put all of that behind them and celebrate their new reality as Olympians! Their finish of 28th place made them the highest finishing Trinis in Winter Olympic History, beating the previous record by almost 10 places.
The team will now have to leave the Olympic Village almost immediately because of COVID restrictions, and return to their homes. Axel and Tom Harris will return to England, Andre will go back to his teaching job in New York City, and Shakeel back to Trinidad and Tobago itself. No matter where the team is headed, they’re sure to have a warm heroes welcome!