Cool Runnings???

Spare a thought for the Jamaican bobsleigh team.

They came to world attention in the 1988 Calgary Olympics where they quickly became crowd and media favourites due to their novelty value and in spite of, or maybe because of, their poor performances. In 1993 they were the inspiration for the Disney film "Cool Runnings."

Since then they have improved dramatically, though not gone on to win any Olympic medals. Despite failing to qualify for the Turin Olympics they remain a testament to the importance of determination and willpower.

And yet, particularly to those of us who live in more northern climes, there is something inherently comical about a team from the Caribbean competing in the Winter Olympics. No one can think of the Jamaican Bobsleigh team without a chuckle.

And now this. Canada, pesky young upstart of a nation that it is, took their best brakeman from them, a man who set a push-start record at the Salt Lake City Olympics, a man considered to be one of the best brakemen in the world, and used him as a ringer in order to win a silver medal in the two-man bobsleigh.

Welcome to Canada, Mr. Brown. And thanks for the medal.