Against All Odds: Jamaica's Unlikely Journey in Pursuit of Olympic Curling
When most people think of Jamaica, images of golden beaches, vibrant reggae rhythms, and world-class sprinters immediately come to mind. But now, this island paradise is carving out a new niche in a sport that couldn't seem more out of place: curling.
Yes, you read that right. Jamaica, a tropical nation known for its sizzling sunshine and high-speed runners, is not just fielding athletes in summer sports anymore. Following in the footsteps of their Olympic bobsleigh legacy, Jamaican athletes have set their sights on the icy lanes of curling. Their goal? To make Jamaica a fixture at the Winter Olympics.
"One day, we want to see Jamaica in the Winter Olympics," said Margot Shepherd-Spurgeon, part of the nation’s mixed doubles curling team, in a recent interview with Olympics.com.
Shepherd-Spurgeon, alongside her teammate Andrew Walker, is headed to Dumfries, Scotland, in December for the World Mixed Doubles Curling Qualification Event — the next step in Jamaica's ambitious quest to qualify for the 2025 World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship and, ultimately, the Winter Games.
While curling may seem like a curious fit for an island famous for its tropical climate, the Jamaican spirit of defying expectations and conquering seemingly insurmountable odds is nothing new. Just ask the country's legendary bobsledders or the alpine skiers who’ve previously represented the nation at the Winter Olympics. For Jamaicans, no challenge is too cold, too distant, or too unlikely to conquer.
From Seaside to the Rink-side
Jamaican athletes have a long history of pushing the boundaries of their country's geographic limitations. While sprinting is the nation's pride and joy, Jamaica’s foray into winter sports like bobsleigh and alpine skiing speaks to a deeper, unshakable national drive.
"We're a people who like to try things," said Walker, who first discovered curling after moving to Canada. "Jamaicans are everywhere, and we like to get involved in everything."
For Walker, the appeal of curling was clear: a sport that blends strategy, teamwork, and precision. It wasn’t long before he swapped watching curling on TV for playing it on the ice. “My wife became a curling widow,” he laughs. "She told me, 'You need to do something about this. You can't just keep watching!'"
His immersion into the sport led him to the Royal Canadian Curling Club in Toronto, where his skills began to flourish. Walker eventually brought his talents — and newfound love for the game — back home to Jamaica, where he helped launch Curling Jamaica in 2022.
Despite the country’s lack of an ice rink (or even a local curling club), Walker and Shepherd-Spurgeon are determined to put Jamaica on the curling map. In fact, Curling Jamaica made its international debut at the 2023 Pan Continental Curling Championships, where the women's team finished second in their division. The victory was a clear sign that Jamaica’s curling dreams were more than just that — they were quickly becoming a reality.
Margot Shepherd-Spurgeon: The Heart of Jamaican Curling
One of the pivotal figures in this curling revolution is Margot Shepherd-Spurgeon. Born to a Jamaican mother in Canada, she grew up with curling as a backdrop, but it wasn't until later in life, after moving to Hamilton, Ontario, that she began to take the sport seriously.
“I knew I was going to love it,” Shepherd-Spurgeon says, reflecting on her late entry into the sport. "My only regret is that I didn’t start when I was 12!"
Now, with over 20 years of curling experience, Shepherd-Spurgeon is not only a seasoned player but a key figure in shaping Jamaica’s curling future. She’s played lead and skip for the women’s national team at the Pan Continental Curling Championships and has coached her daughter’s mixed doubles team. But her mission goes beyond just competing.
"I want to see people from Jamaica, people who look like me, curling on TV," Shepherd-Spurgeon says. "That’s my long-term goal."
It's a dream shared by both Shepherd-Spurgeon and Walker, whose mixed doubles partnership — despite geographical challenges and limited practice — has emerged as one of Jamaica's brightest prospects in international curling.
A Shared Dream: Building a Future for Jamaican Curling
Despite being an unlikely pairing — one from Canada, one from Jamaica — Shepherd-Spurgeon and Walker have a remarkably easy chemistry on the ice. Their friendship, combined with their shared determination to make curling a part of Jamaica’s sporting legacy, makes them an unstoppable duo.
“I think the big thing is, we just get along really well on the ice,” says Shepherd-Spurgeon. "We keep it pretty relaxed."
While both acknowledge that international competition is fierce, with teams from colder climates having far more experience and access to resources, they remain optimistic. For them, each competition, each point earned, is a step closer to the ultimate goal: Olympic qualification.
“We’re not looking to be superstars right away,” Walker admits. "But if we can bring the same kind of energy and fun to curling that Cool Runnings did for bobsleigh, we’ll have done our job."
Their ambitions may not involve breaking world records like Jamaica’s sprinting legends Usain Bolt and Elaine Thompson-Herah, but they do hope to achieve something equally impactful: putting Jamaican curling on the map, inspiring future generations, and showing the world that anything is possible — even for an island without snow.
A New Ice Age for Jamaican Sports
As they prepare for the World Mixed Doubles Qualification Event, Walker and Shepherd-Spurgeon are acutely aware of the challenges ahead. But they are equally excited about the potential impact their journey could have on the future of Jamaican curling.
“The young curlers coming up behind us are the ones who’ll leapfrog us,” says Walker, his voice filled with hope for the future of the sport. “We’re just laying the foundation for them."
With limited practice time and few international tournaments to their name, they might not be expected to make a huge splash at the World Mixed Doubles Championship just yet. But for Walker and Shepherd-Spurgeon, it’s not just about winning — it’s about setting a precedent, inspiring a nation, and proving that no dream is too cold to chase.
"We hope we can be seen, and that we’ll inspire others to try curling and develop their skills," says Shepherd-Spurgeon.
For now, the pair is content to sport the Jamaican colors proudly and raise the profile of curling in their homeland. They may not have the fame of a sprinter, but they’re paving the way for future Jamaican curlers to compete on the world stage — and perhaps, one day, at the Winter Olympics.
In a country known for defying expectations, the ice is now their playground.
