From Diving to Bobsled: Calgary Athlete's Olympic Journey to Milano-Cortina
Calgary Diver Switches to Bobsled for Olympic Dream

From Diving to Bobsled: Calgary Athlete's Olympic Journey to Milano-Cortina

Yohan Eskrick-Parkinson has always embraced bold leaps in his athletic career. Now, the Calgary native is making his most significant jump yet—from the diving board to the bobsled track—as he represents Canada at the Milano-Cortina Olympic Games. This transition comes just two years after he narrowly missed qualifying for the 2024 Paris Summer Games in diving while representing Jamaica.

A Swift Transition to Winter Sports

Eskrick-Parkinson's journey to the Olympics is a testament to his versatility and determination. At 25 years old, he has quickly adapted to bobsledding, joining the Canadian team as a brakeman for the four-man event. His training runs began at the Cortina Sliding Centre in Italy, with competition heats scheduled for the weekend.

"The big goal, obviously, is to build medal-potential teams for the Olympics," Eskrick-Parkinson said. "We have our sights on this Olympics but also on the next Olympics, as well." He acknowledges that the Canadian bobsleigh program is in rebuild mode, with many new brakemen like himself learning the ropes. "Despite having what I would say a historically, comparatively weaker team, a lot of us made a big jump as far as brakemen go, especially given how new we were towards unlocking that potential."

Connections to 'Cool Runnings' and Calgary Heritage

Eskrick-Parkinson's story carries echoes of the iconic film 'Cool Runnings', which depicted Jamaica's bobsled team. With Jamaican heritage, he finds the connection both amusing and meaningful. "Absolutely," he chuckled. "What's cool about it is I do kind of have all these ties to just the story of Cool Runnings itself."

He points to several personal links:

  • Knowing Marselles Brown, who bobsledded for Jamaica before switching to Canada.
  • Attending high school at the National Sport School at Canada Olympic Park, site of the 1988 sliding events.
  • Observing Canadian and Jamaican bobsledders training at the Canadian Sport Institute at WinSport.

"If you asked me back then, I wouldn't have expected to have been putting those things together in some way," Eskrick-Parkinson reflected. "But there's some sort of connection there that I can definitely appreciate."

Calgary's Strong Presence on the Canadian Team

The Milano-Cortina Games highlight Calgary's significant contribution to Canada's bobsled team. Four athletes from the area are participating:

  1. Yohan Eskrick-Parkinson (Calgary) – brakeman in four-man bobsled.
  2. Skylar Sieben (Cochrane) – brakeman/brakewoman.
  3. Bianca Ribi (Calgary firefighter) – pilot for the two-woman event.
  4. Eden Wilson (Calgary) – team alternate.

All are making their Olympic debuts, showcasing the region's talent in winter sports. The team includes three sleds for the two-woman event and two sleds each for women's monobob, two-man, and four-man events.

Looking Ahead to Competition

Eskrick-Parkinson will compete in the four-man bobsled, with heats starting on Saturday at 4 a.m. ET and 5:57 a.m. ET, followed by final heats on Sunday at 4 a.m. ET and 6:15 a.m. ET. His rapid rise in bobsledding—from beginner to Olympian in just two years—underscores his athletic prowess and commitment to achieving his Olympic dream for Canada.

As he prepares for the competition, Eskrick-Parkinson remains focused on growth and performance. "This is my second year, but my first year, half the team was new as far as brakemen go," he noted. "So it was definitely a learning curve for all of us. And I think that's cool, because you obviously grow quite a bit in your first year." His journey from diving to bobsledding is a unique and inspiring chapter in Olympic history, blending personal heritage with national pride.