Bobsledder Calls For More Women To Get Involved In Sports

A call for more women to get involved in local sports, which is important to building critical life skills, rang out at Iona High School in Tower Isle, St. Mary, on International Women’s Day (March 8).

The message came from American-Jamaican Bobsledder, Jazmine Fenlator-Victorian, who, in partnership with the Sandals Foundation, held a special ceremony for the young girls of the institution, in recognition of the cultural, political, and socio-economic achievements of women.

The 36-year-old three-time Olympian told the students that sport can be used as a catalyst to catapult their future dreams and careers.

“Through sport, I have achieved my bachelor’s degree, two master’s degrees and an honorary doctorate,” said Mrs. Fenlator-Victorian, who transitioned from track and field to bobsled in 2007.

“Sport has help me with motivational speaking, it has helped me to create a network and helped me to connect with a multitude of international communities. I have also started my business as an entrepreneur, and through that, I also deal with business coaching and mentorship,” she added.

Furthermore, Mrs. Fenlator-Victorian indicated that black women, particularly those from the Caribbean, are underrepresented in sport worldwide.

She told the students that it is never too late to make the transition into sport that “opens up pathways” and helps to create Caribbean history.

“By seeing your fellow countrywoman or even just athletes that look like you and resonate with your circumstances, in some way can inspire and motivate the masses to go beyond,” Mrs. Fenlator-Victorian argued.

“This month we celebrate women’s history and today is Women’s Day. As Jamaican women, we have a rich deep history of courageousness, boldness, fire and success that have led to some of the most astonishing accomplishments, not just on our island but worldwide,” she added.

Mrs. Fenlator-Victorian was born in the United States to a Jamaican father from Cave, Westmoreland, and a mother from Eastern Europe.

She was crowned Woman Athlete of the Year twice while attending Rider University in New Jersey, where her coach recommended her to the US Olympic Bobsled team. She participated with the team from 2007 to 2015, competing in her first Olympics in Sochi, Russia, in 2014.

The Olympian, however, felt that she could have more impact in the sport and looked to her Jamaican roots for answers. She decided to transition to the Jamaican bobsled team in 2015, qualifying for two Winter Olympics – the two-woman bobsled event in 2018 and the women’s monobob in 2022.

The three-time Olympian is the first Caribbean woman representing a Caribbean nation in the Winter Olympics.

“I am looking to continue contributing to Jamaica bobsled, recruiting some more young females and just giving that impact back to the community to help them on the path forward,” Mrs. Fenlator-Victorian said.

Iona High’s student, Renea Francis, told JIS News that the day’s event was “inspirational” for her, adding that Mrs. Fenlator-Victorian’s connection between sport and womanhood was also an eye-opener for “most of us girls here”.

She said her speech showed that women are no longer remaining on the sidelines but are stepping up in career and in sport.

“I know that this speech really touched them (students), so they can understand and portray careers that they want,” she added.

Public Relations Manager at Sandals Foundation, Patrice Gilpin, emphasised that the entity is passionate about youth engagement as well as sport and decided to help make that connection by pairing Iona High School and Mrs. Fenlator-Victorian on International Women’s Day.

She pointed out that Sandals Foundation has similar ongoing sport-themed initiatives throughout the Caribbean region, because young people’s engagement in sport unlocks their potential and helps them develop important life skills.

“I know having Jazmine of Jamaican lineage, a face that looks like theirs (students) as a woman, and a voice that has similar experiences, it would definitely inspire young people,” Ms. Gilpin said.

“So, this was a seamless partnership for us. We look forward to continuing that partnership with the bobsled team to show what Jamaica can do on the world stage,” she added.