Why the World-Famous Jamaican Bobsled Team Is in New York

The news keeps on getting bigger and bigger for fans of one of the most thrilling Winter Olympic events.

The bobsled, which is powered by either two or four-person teams who hurdle down a frozen track, is famous for a number of reasons. One of the most special is its ties with New York State (we'll get to Jamaica in a second).

Winter Olympic History in New York State

The Winter Olympics have been held in Lake Placid, NY twice, and visitors can even relive the famous bobsled event by riding down the country's longest mountain coaster that follows the former route of the track (below). Recently, there was even more exciting news.

Lake Placid, NY Named Backup Venue for 2026 Olympic Bobsled Event

Last month, it was announced that the current track at Mt. Van Hoevenberg in North Elba, NY would officially be the backup track for the 2026 Winter Olympics. It should come as no surprise then, that some of the most famous teams are already training there.

The World-Famous Jamaican Bobsled Team

The Jamaican National Bobsled Team, who has been in the hearts of nearly every millennial since the 1993 classic sports comedy Cool Runnings (below), has trained in Upstate New York for almost 40 years.

The Jamaican Bobsled team Is Training in New York

While the movie was only loosely based in fact, it remains true that the original Jamaican bobsled team trained in Lake Placid, and now the present-day team does too (below).

While chances may be slim that the 2026 Winter Olympics will actually need to use New York as an alternate location, the fact that so many professional teams flock to Lake Placid every year is inspiring in its own right. It also may sway some country allegiances when the races finally begin.

Check out some fascinating Olympic facts below, and keep scrolling to see photos from the very first Winter Olympics from 1924.