From the heat of Jamaica to the ice of New York, and now, the Olympic track in Italy, the Jamaican Bobsleigh team's journey to the 2026 Winter Olympics is powered by resilience, heart and an unshakable belief in what’s possible.

At just 26 years old, Shane Pitter is the pilot of the team, carrying forward a legacy that has always defied expectations. He lives and trains in Jamaica, where winter doesn’t exist in the traditional sense. “It’s hot,” he said with a laugh.

Training for an icy, high-speed sport in a tropical climate requires creativity and discipline. When it’s time to head north, Pitter prepares his body before he ever steps outside. “We always make sure we are fully dressed for the cold,” he explained. “I make sure my room is actually cold. So when I go outside, I can manage the outside temperature.”

(MORE: How The Cold Impacts An Athlete’s Training)

It’s a small detail, but one that reflects a bigger truth: This team doesn’t wait for perfect conditions. It adapts.

That mindset was tested in heartbreaking ways when Hurricane Melissa tore through parts of Jamaica in October of last year. The team was in Canada at the time, racing in the North American Cup, watching devastation unfold back home from a distance.

While Pitter's own family was spared, the emotional weight was heavy. “A lot of missing people still out there and people's homes got washed away. Some of the people don’t even have a home and like everything is gone for them.”

And yet, in the middle of that grief, something extraordinary happened.

That same day, Pitter and his team raced to a historic gold medal. After the win, messages poured in from home. “The comments back home, they were like, ‘we really needed this win after that storm,’” he recalled.

(MORE: Can Winter Olympics Survive Warming Weather)

Then came another emotional moment. “When I came down the track, I was hearing Jimmy Cliff (a Jamaican musician) playing on the radio, and one of the track officials said that he passed away.”

With one heat left to decide the race, Pitter found his focus. “We are not going to just win this for Jamaica and ourselves, but we are going to also win this for Jimmy Cliff because he’s very special to us.”

The result? Gold.

Even that victory took time to sink in. “When I won, I was like, did I really win?” Pitter said. “Then after, it really hits me when they called me for the gold medal,” He paused. “Knowing that I made history and we never finished on the podium before.”

With Olympic qualification secured, the team hunkered down to train in Lake Placid, New York. “Lake Placid is like crazy cold,” Pitter said. Compared to that, he thinks, Italy should be manageable.

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“We have a goal to accomplish so it doesn’t matter the rain or the storm,” Pitter said. “We’re going out there to make sure we do our training.”

Extra layers, face masks and preparation ensure the cold never becomes an excuse. “We don’t miss out on anything because of the cold.”

There are other challenges too, like equipment. The Jamaican team is competing on borrowed sleds, some nearly a decade old, while other nations arrive with the latest technology.

Still, Pitter remains confident. “Even though my sled is not going to be brand new going into the games, I’m going to definitely use it to do some damage,” he said. “I’m gonna let those older sleds sing, fly.”

The team is set to compete in several events in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, beginning February 15 and 16.

From hurricanes to snowstorms, the Jamaican Bobsleigh team’s road to the 2026 Winter Olympics is about more than medals. It’s about showing up for each other, for their country and for people back home who need hope in the aftermath of disaster.

“I just want to say thanks to everybody who is watching and thanks for the support,” Pitter said. “Much love from me and from Jamaica Bobsleigh team.”

If you'd like to donate to the Jamaican Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation, they have organized a GoFundMe campaign which is linked in their Instagram bio.