Review of The Jamaican Bobsled Captain

[Rajnee Varma]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Jamaican Bobsled Captain" by Ben Stubenberg.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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The Jamaican Bobsled Captain by Ben Stubenberg is a non-fiction book that narrates the compelling story of Dudley “Tal" Stokes and his journey from a helicopter pilot to an Olympian bobsledder. He was one of the first two Jamaicans in history who competed in the Olympic two-man bobsleigh in the Winter Olympics that took place in Calgary in 1988. The book covers the lives of Stokes’ parents, Pastor Dudley Stokes and Blossom O’Meally-Nelson Stokes, on the dry island of Grand Turk in the Turks and Caicos, since their arrival in 1961 from Jamaica, the early life of Tal, his siblings, his education, his becoming a pilot assigned to the JDF Air Wing in Kingston, and his marriage to Denise. Around the same time, two Americans, William “Will” Maloney and George Fitch, conceived the idea of assembling a Jamaican bobsled team to compete in the Winter Olympics in 1988. Against all odds of naysaying, lack of funding, and doubts, a team was formed, and Tal became a part of the team. The book encompasses every aspect of the struggle and hard work of the Jamaican team to qualify and compete in the Winter Olympics. It presents their continued journey of competing in the consequent Olympics despite lack of funds, inexperience, and the general perception that the sport of bobsledding was not for Black men. Travel expenses, equipment, nutritious food, and fees of a coach were beyond their means, and they depended on their fundraising campaigns, loans, donations, and money from their own pockets.

The book has been written after thorough research and interviews with prominent persons, including Tal and his brother, Chris. A long list of references is a testimony to the authenticity of the narration. The events are described with exact dates and in great detail. The author has discussed physical and emotional obstacles, the conflicts between team members, the members and the coaches, the accidents during the sports, technical shortcomings of the equipment, the qualifying criteria, the fine-tuning of the sleds, the effect of weather and climate on the sport, and several other factors. The author has also included the origin and history of the sport and its inclusion in the Olympic Games. The personal lives and backgrounds of the team members and the associated people help the reader understand the environment and the factors affecting the Jamaican team. The technical details of the sport, the effect of temperature, weight, curves and slopes, and the importance of skills required in this ice sport are overwhelming. The most remarkable part of the book is the truth about the movie “Cool Runnings” and its deviation from the facts. The book includes photographs, historical facts, the cultural background of bobsledding, and the lives of the people featured in the book at the time of writing the book. There is nothing negative or worth criticizing about the book. I am happy to give it a perfect rating of 5 out of 5 stars.

Despite being full of technical data, statistical facts, and a large number of people included in the story, it keeps the reader captivated and is not a bit boring. It portrays how at a time when Jamaica and its Black people were not being taken seriously by the wealthy nations and their well-funded teams, the Jamaican team made history, although they never reached the podium in the Olympics. Tal’s story and his contribution to the nation’s rise in the Olympic Games are quite inspiring. I would recommend the book to sports enthusiasts interested particularly in bobsledding and the Olympic Games in general.

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The Jamaican Bobsled Captain
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[Shaniz Tobiaz]

This a very interesting book. It is a must read for me.

[George Bastem]

What an incredible and inspiring story! Tal Stokes’ journey from a pilot to an Olympian, despite all the odds, sounds like a true testament to perseverance and passion. The mix of history, sports, and personal struggle makes it a must-read, especially for anyone who loves the Olympics or underdog stories.