Trinidad and Tobago’s bobsleigh team has declared “mission accomplished” following their performance in the Olympic two-man event held in Cortina, where they secured 25th place out of 26 competitors. Axel Brown, who was born in Harrogate and previously raced for Team GB before switching to represent his mother’s homeland, emphasized the team’s primary objective was to avoid finishing last. They achieved this goal, finishing ahead of Israel with an overall time of 2:51:05, marking a noteworthy accomplishment.
Brown, who pilots the sled alongside brakeman De Aundre John, expressed immense pride in their achievement. “It’s absolutely mission accomplished. Me and Dre have been able to do something special together,” he shared with BBC Sport. He elaborated on the significance of their performance, highlighting the absence of state funding for their team and the achievement of beating another nation that is considered stronger in the sport.
Despite not reaching the top 20, the team demonstrated improvement, recording their fastest run in the third heat. They are also set to compete in the four-man event later this week, which offers another opportunity to showcase their skills.
The two-man event saw a dominant display from German teams, with Johannes Lochner and Georg Fleischhauer taking gold, followed by Francesco Friedrich and Alexander Schuller winning silver, and Adam Ammour and Alexander Schaller taking bronze.
Brown, who is competing in his second Olympics—having participated in Beijing 2022—expressed that qualification for the Games was a victory in itself. This is particularly significant as it marked Trinidad and Tobago’s return to the Winter Games arena after a 20-year absence, having last qualified from 1994 to 2002.
At 33, Brown reflects on his journey from being a national-level taekwondo medallist and an American football player to becoming a bobsleigh competitor. He began his bobsleigh career at the age of 21 with the intention of reviving the sport in Trinidad and Tobago.
Standing atop the track alongside John, Brown noted how meaningful it was to have his father present on the start line and to be supported by coach Lee Johnston, who has been essential in uniting the team. This sentiment highlights the dedication and spirit that defines their bobsleigh journey and future aspirations in the sport.