How Much of ‘Cool Runnings’ Actually Happened?

JAMAICA:  For over three decades, Cool Runnings has been celebrated as the ultimate Olympic “underdog” story. However, as director Jon Turteltaub recently admitted, the script was “refined again and again” to create a better movie, often at the expense of the truth.

Here is the breakdown of what happened in Calgary 1988 versus what appeared on the silver screen.

John Candy played coach Irv in the beloved film.

In the film, the team consists of disqualified sprinters and a pushcart derby champion. In reality, the team was recruited from the Jamaican Army. Two American businessmen conceived the idea after watching pushcart racing and, failing to recruit elite track stars, turned to the military for disciplined athletes.

Irv Blitzer might have been a cheater but real-life coach Howard Siler definitely was not!

John Candy’s iconic character, Irv Blitzer—a disgraced former medalist who cheated in 1972—never existed. The real team was coached by Howard Siler, a respected American bobsleigher and insurance executive with an unblemished record. Turteltaub confirmed the “cheater” storyline was added purely for “character depth.”

The real Jamaican bobsleigh team celebrate one of their first sponsors.

The movie depicts intense hostility from the East German and American teams. In truth, the bobsleigh community was incredibly welcoming. Team member Dudley Stokes noted that other athletes were instrumental in their training, stating, “Very few people showed any resentment.”

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

The film’s climax features the team carrying their 300kg sled across the finish line after a mechanical failure. In reality:

The crash was caused by driver error, not a broken bolt.

The team walked alongside the sled while track officials pushed it.

They were disqualified and did not officially finish the race.

Interestingly, a true detail that was left out involved Prince Albert of Monaco. The Prince was a major advocate for the Jamaican team, using his influence with the Bobsleigh Federation to ensure they were allowed to compete—a subplot the director felt was too complex for the movie’s pacing.