AFTER securing Jamaica’s first-ever gold medal in international bobsleigh, former national 100m champion Tyquendo Tracey believes the team has what it takes to compete against the best in the world.

Jamaica recorded several historic performances at the International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation (IBSF) North American Cup in Whistler, Canada, which included their triumph in the four-man bobsleigh event on Monday.

Driver Shane Pitter along with brakemen Tracey, Andre Dacres and Junior slid to gold in 1:45:88 seconds, ahead of hosts Canada who finished second and third.

It was the first time in Jamaica’s history they were winning a gold medal at any bobsleigh championship, and Tracey, who took up the sport earlier this year, believes there’s more to come.

“It’s been a long time coming where we just need to put things together the right way and show the world that, regardless of the sport, regardless of climate, we can always put forward our best foot,” he said.

“In everything we do we can make it better — and that’s what we seek to do. For right now, we’ll take this as another learning part of the process, just get better, and do more going forward.”

Pitter, one of the longest- serving members of the team, says their victory was well-deserved.

“I’m a champion, and this is why we train so hard, this is why we are together as a team,” he said. “It means a whole lot for me right now. I’m so emotional about it but this is what we work for. This is what we reap.”

Sports Minister Olivia Grange, who committed to supporting Jamaica’s push at the Winter Olympics next year, also hailed the team’s historic feat.

“Our bobsledders, who from the beginning caused excitement when they entered the sport, have consistently given a good account of themselves — and now with a gold-medal performance following a bronze medal at the same competition,” she said.

Along with the gold medal the team earned valuable points as they seek to qualify for next February’s Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina.

Pitter finished with two medals after he and Nimroy Turgott won bronze in the two-man event in 1:48.02, just behind Canada and Great Britain.

The American leg of the North America Cup starts this weekend in Park City, Utah, before moving to Lake, Placid in New York in January.

— Daniel Blake

From left: Shane Pitter, Andrae Dacres, Junior Dacres and Tyquendo Tracey celebrate winning gold at the 2025 North American Cup in Whistler, Canada. It is the country’s first gold medal at an international bobsleigh event.