At the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, the Jamaican bobsled captain, Dudley Tal Stokes, lost control of the four-man sled he was driving and crashed violently while millions watched around the world. As skulls slammed the ice for twenty-one perilous seconds before the sled came to a stop, a calming clarity settled over him. Instead of walking away from the sport glad to be alive, Tal internalized the experience and committed himself to becoming a world-class bobsledder, whatever it took. Disney later released the hit comedy film, Cool Runnings, loosely based on the original team's inspiring effort even if they didn't stand a chance.
The true story of how Tal and the real bobsledders clawed their way back from a near-death experience in Calgary unveils an astounding perseverance in the face of failure, chronic lack of money, and constant doubt. Against all odds, Tal and the Jamaicans took on the highly experienced European and North American bobsledders at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer and claimed their place among the elite. This is the tale of that journey from rock bottom "crash dummies" to fearsome contenders that stands as an enduring testament to the human spirit.