Jamaicans are known for excelling in various sporting disciplines including ones that are not geographically or culturally common. With the continuous expansion of Jamaica’s diversity, we look at a few non-traditional sports in which the country has been making a mark.
Bob Sledding
“Feel the Ryhym, feel the Rhyme,” a popular quote from the movie “Cool Runnings,” inspired by Jamaica’s historic participation in the Bob Sledding at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Canada.
This feat has not only broken perceived geo-cultural barriers as to what is possible but also influenced the entrance of other winter sports by Jamaicans and other non-winter countries.
The ‘icebreaking’ feat has since seen Jamaica earn historic qualifications for at least three other Winter Olympic Games, such as a female Bobsled team and mono bob, the single-person version of the typical four-person event.
Jamaica’s participation in Alpine Skiing has also been part of winter sport growth.
Lacrosse
Despite being a relatively new sport to the island, having been introduced officially under 20 years ago, Jamaica has already announced itself as a growing titan in the event globally, qualifying at Championship Tournaments in all categories.
The categories include U-19 Boys, U-19 Girls, and the Men’s and Women’s senior teams, all regional firsts for the Caribbean.
The Jamlax team made further history at last year’s tournament by advancing to the round of 16 in six years after making their debut at a major senior championship.
Rugby
Jamaicans are said to be naturally gifted with speed and strength. Those attributes have undoubtedly been put to use as the country continues to make a name within World Rugby.
Despite not having the best playing surfaces, the island has qualified for consecutive World Cups in 2016 and 2018, another regional first in the sport.
Aquatics
In addition to excelling in land-based activities, Jamaica has over the years made waves in aquatic sports with the island earning multiple Olympic qualifications in competitive swimming courtesy of icon Aliah Atkinson.
The swim star has qualified for four consecutive Olympic Games from 2004-2012 narrowly missing the country’s first medal in the sport following a close fourth in the 100m breaststroke.
Atkinson, the first black woman to win a short-course World Championship, also tied the 50m World record in the short course on her way to winning four titles.
The country is also making a splash in diving, with Yona Knight-Wisdom waving the flag high internationally, representing Jamaica in the 2014 Commonwealth Games, the 2015 World Aquatics Championships, and the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Field Hockey
Similar to lacrosse, local field Hockey has made waves, with the country’s most recent feat coming via historic Hockey5’s World Cup qualification in January. The feat shows Jamaica’s increasing international presence in stick sports.
Motor racing
Jamaca’s need for speed is not only limited to the lanes of the stadiums, it also extends to the motor circuit, with drivers such as Sara Misir and Fraser McConnell helping to steer the island’s growing impact on the international scene.
Misir, who has been breaking barriers as one of the handful of female drivers on the scene, broke it further by beating hundreds of drivers across the world to become the region’s first Formula Woman racer.
McConnell consistently ranked among the top three Motor X drivers, further bolstering the country’s imprint on the sport, ending the season as the second-best driver moving up a spot from third place last year.
