Bobsleigh duo Winston Watts and Marvin Dixon are looking to revive the passion in Jamaica by bringing the bobsled back to the Winter Olympics for the first time since 2002. The pair are in pole position to take a place at the event barring a series of unfortunate events in the final rounds of labyrinthine maze qualifying process.
However a repeat of the dream could be in jeopardy due to lack of funding. The two, who should be safe after a fifth-place finish at a North American Cup race, want to travel to St Moritz to ensure their qualification, but are currently short of funds to travel to the final qualifying competition.
Watts a former goalkeeper, drove the two-man sled for his third Games in Salt Lake in 2002, but sadly the drive, ambition and funds had dried up since the Disney hit Cool Runnings had brought huge popularity to the sport. After losing his job as a wire-line operator he decided to take a chance and go into sledding full-time. Without support from the Jamaica Olympic Association it took a lot of begging and borrowing to keep the dream alive.
Watts told the Telegraph:
“I just about get by financially. Beg, scrape, it’s hard. I’ve got headaches a lot of times man, believe you me, Sometimes my coach [Tom Samuel, an old Canadian rival who used to outdrive him] says ‘just focus’ and I say ‘how?’ I just trust things will turn over OK. I put God in front of me and just leave everything to him like a father.”
He had originally thought of contesting with a four-man crew but due do additional funding and injuries to members it had to be abandoned. Watts however with his partner Dixon, a former sprinter, kept going and have got themselves into a great position to represent their country. It could all be in vain though because even if the team do get their dream qualification they still need to raise 80,000 USD to make it a reality.
There has been a donation account set up if you do feel somewhat generous towards the cause.
FANS can now make a donation to our Jamaica Bobsleigh Team at http://t.co/f5FItpLRMl Thx #JamaicaBobsled#Sochi2014pic.twitter.com/cA6Nu8bbGj
— Team Jamaica (@JamaicaOlympics) January 20, 2014
