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WHILE MANY would have been surprised at seeing Tyquendo Tracey’s name on the start list at the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) World Championships over the weekend, the sprinter explained his participation was years in the making.
Tracey, more widely known for his speed in the men’s 100 metres, suited up for Jamaica in the two-man bobsleigh event at the IBSF World Championships.
It was his first time competing in a winter sport, an experience which the sprinter enjoyed.
Tracey, along with his teammates Shane Pitter and Tyreek Bucknor, finished 21st after their combined time of two minutes, 48.71 seconds (2:48.71) across three heats.
Germany swept the podium in the event with the pair of Francesco Friedrich and Alexander Schuller taking gold in 3:39.32 across four heats, ahead of compatriots Johannes Lochner and Georg Fleischhauer, 3:39.35, and Adam Ammour and Benedikt Hertel, 3:40.15.
Tracey said he was first approached to compete in bobsledding in 2021 by Jamaica Bobsleigh and Skeletal Federation (JBSF) president Chris Stokes.
“I was approached by the president in 2021 actually. A lot was going on in and around that time for me personally and I didn’t think much of it. I told him I would get back to him with that in mind but the conversation didn’t come back around until late last year.”
Tracey admitted he was sceptical about the offer as he did not believe he would have the skill set to compete at international level.
He was surprised, however, when he found himself doing well in training and earned a spot at the World Championships.
“Funnily enough, earlier this year, I came in for just some training to see what it would be like. Surprisingly, I was a lot better at it than I thought I was. I surprised everybody; from coaches to management,” he explained.
“Based on what was going on, they said they would need me back for the World Championships. They told me ‘even if you are not the main man for the World Championships, you are the second best at the moment so we need you here just in case anything happens’ and that was basically how I ended up at the World Championships,” he continued.
Tracey explained, however, while he is open to continue representing Jamaica in bobsled, he has not closed the door on his sprinting career.
He is willing to compete in both sporting disciplines should all go well with his training and competition scheduling.
“I mean, it is possible. The training that I’m doing, it can translate into bobsled,” he said.
“For now, it is definitely something that I can do alongside track and field. I am coming back home to get back into track training to get back in line for my season.”
Tracey feels he is in the best form of his life, which has been accentuated by a personal best of 6.61 in the 60 metres set last month at the Gibson McCook Relays.
“I’ve been doing well. A lot of people got to see it early this season as I’ve had a series of PBs in the 60m and I haven’t been able to do that in years.
“I’m getting better, so I’m just taking things one step at a time, I’m just enjoying life,” he continued.
Tracey believes that at his best, he can challenge for a spot at the World Athletics Championships set to be held in Tokyo in September this year.
English (US) ·