Jamaica has its first ever skier to represent the island at the Winter Olympics in Beijing next month.
Benjamin Alexander, a former DJ, only took up the sport in 2016 and does not have a full-time coach. But he managed to qualify for Beijing after finishing seventh in the giant slalom at the Cape Verde National Ski Championships on 12 January.
The 38-year-old Brit, who grew up in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire but has a Jamaican father, will be the first alpine skier - and the 15th athlete in history - to compete for Jamaica at the Winter Games.
He says his unlikely story is partly inspired by the legendary 1988 bobsleigh team - who were the first Jamaicans to compete in the Winter Olympics - before crashing out and finishing last. They became cult heroes by the 1993 film ‘Cool Runnings’.
Alexander said: "It feels amazing. The biggest emotion I have right now is relief. I have put my entire life into this, my savings, my reputation, absolutely everything. It's taken 200 percent of my all to get here."
When asked of his chances of medalling, he joked: “Only if every single country boycotts these Games will I be on the podium.”
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