Jamaica’s ‘Cool Runnings’ bobsleigh group use GoFundMe to succeed in Winter Olympics
Athletes from five countries, including the US, Canada, Croatia and Ireland, have used GoFundMe to get to the start line for the Winter Olympics which start this month
The team’s real life adventures inspired the hit comedy film(Image: Paramount/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock)
A total of 19 Winter Olympians have used GoFundMe to make the Games in Italy – including Jamaica’s ‘Cool Runnings’ bobsleigh team.
The crowd-funding website has helped athletes from five countries – including the US, Canada, Croatia and Ireland – compete in the seasonal spectacular which starts in Milan and Cortina on February 4.
Among the beneficiaries of an online cash appeal was the 2026 version of the Jamaican bobsleigh team which won the hearts of the world when it qualified for the 1988 Games in Calgary, Canada. The team’s real life icy adventures inspired the hit 1993 comedy movie Cool Runnings starring John Candy.
GoFundMe communications manager Jeff Platt said without the website it was unlikely the Jamaican team would be there. He said: “Nearly four decades after inspiring Cool Runnings the programme remains largely unsupported by government funding and at risk of being priced out of the Games altogether. Their GoFundMe has helped keep the team alive long enough to reach Milan.”
Jeff said crowdfunding had played a key role in swelling the Winter Olympic ranks. He said: “Dozens of athletes have relied on GoFundMe to get themselves to the start line.
“In total 19 Olympians representing five countries, the US, Canada, Croatia, Ireland, and Jamaica, are using GoFundMe to cover essential travel and training costs on their road to Milan. These are athletes who qualified for the world’s biggest stage but still had to ask their communities for help just to get there.”
While he said ‘one of the most striking examples’ was Jamaica’s bobsleigh team he said Canadian cross-country skier Rémi Drolet’s battle to make the start in Italy ‘highlights the same reality’. He said: “A Harvard graduate who now trains full time alongside Olympic champion Jessie Diggins, Drolet receives no monthly government funding despite qualifying for Milan.
“His GoFundMe has helped cover the cost of living, training camps, and travel so he can focus on performance rather than bills. That same funding gap appears across Europe. Irish alpine ski racer Cormac Comerford also turned to GoFundMe after qualifying for the Games, highlighting the growing cost of athlete safety.
“Set to represent Ireland across all four alpine disciplines, Comerford faced €3,000 (£2597) in mandatory safety equipment expenses following new International Ski Federation regulations. Croatian short track speed skater Valentina Aščič is competing in her second Olympic Games in Milan.
“While her training brought her to the Olympic stage, her GoFundMe focused on something more personal – allowing her family to be there with her.”
Aščič said: “Behind my entire sporting journey stands a big family that has been my greatest support. The opportunity to share even a part of the Olympic Games with them would mean the world to me.”
