After what has felt like an unending stretch of difficult headlines, Jamaica finally received a much-needed burst of good news, and it came hurtling down an icy track thousands of miles away. Thirty-seven years after Jamaica’s historic debut at the Winter Olympic Games in Calgary in 1988, our bobsleigh athletes have made history once again, delivering something rare in recent weeks: joy, pride and a powerful reminder of our unshakeable spirit.
What began as a strong early showing on the North American Cup circuit quickly turned into one of the most successful starts Jamaica has ever had in winter sport. More importantly, it reminded us that even in the hardest moments, Jamaicans continue to rise.
A Breakthrough Season for Jamaica’s Bobsleigh Teams
Jamaica’s early winter campaign has turned into one of the country’s strongest starts in decades. At the IBSF North American Cup (NAC) in Whistler, Canada, the four-man team of Shane Pitter, Andrae Dacres, Junior Harris and Tyquendo Tracey made history on November 24, 2025, winning Jamaica’s first ever international four-man gold medal. The team finished in 1:45.88. They narrowly beat Canada for the top spot.
This came after earlier podium finishes at the same event, including a two-man team bronze on November 21, and a four-man team bronze on November, 23 both part of the Whistler NAC series.
That momentum carried into the United States, where on November 30, 2025, at American leg of the competition in Park City, Utah, Pitter and Joel Fearon captured another gold medal in the two-man event. Park City is one of the fastest and most technically demanding tracks on the circuit, and the win marked Jamaica’s second major victory in the space of a week, further solidifying the team’s growing international credibility.
Women on the Rise: Podiums, Pace and Promise
While the men made headlines, Jamaica’s women were also quietly putting together an impressive campaign.
Mica Moore delivered multiple bronze medal finishes in the Women’s Monobob across Whistler and Park City, showing composure, consistency, and a steady climb up the rankings. Her determination on two of the circuit’s most technically demanding tracks suggests that a breakthrough is close.
Newcomer Adanna Johnson, making her senior-level debut, clocked one of the fastest top speeds of the entire field in Whistler. She finished just outside the medals but clearly demonstrated her potential and competitiveness. Her performances mark her as one to watch in the seasons ahead.
Together, Moore and Johnson show that Jamaica’s winter sport future will be shaped by both men and women, and that the programme is developing real depth.
About the North American Cup
The North American Cup is part of the development series run by the International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation (IBSF). It helps athletes gain experience before advancing to higher-level competitions.
The circuit includes events such as two-man, two-woman, four-man, and women’s monobob races. It also features skeleton events. The series attracts developing athletes from across the world and takes place at tracks in cities such as Whistler, Park City, and Lake Placid.
Whistler and Park City are two of the most respected tracks on the NAC circuit. They are steep, fast and technically challenging, and strong results there mean Jamaica is competing against nations that have been involved in winter sport for generations.
Why These Wins Meant So Much to Jamaicans
In a moment when the country has been grappling with hardship and uncertainty, these performances offered something we desperately needed: hope. The success of our bobsleigh athletes has reminded us that Jamaicans, wherever we are in the world, possess a resilience and determination that cannot be dimmed.
This is not just about sport. It is about belief.
It is about seeing Jamaicans excel in spaces where nobody expected us to and realising once again that we are capable of anything.
The medals, the breakthroughs, the women rising and the men making history all point to a future where Jamaica can stand tall on the winter-sport stage, not as a novelty but as a contender.
As the team continues its journey toward Milano Cortina 2026, they carry with them not only the nation’s hopes but also its heart.
