Joel Fearon: From pizza delivery man to Winter Olympic hopeful

Like many athletes, Fearon’s career has been affected by agonising injuries at key moments.

He has wires in his lower leg bones holding them together, following a serious one picked up while running for the British relay team.

“After that, I semi-retired from athletics, I still went and did a few things, but it wasn’t the same,” he said.

“It took a good two-year chunk out of my athletic career.”

But while that pain eased over time as he recovered, what hit his family next was hard to put into words.

In 2023, his sister Natasha Morais was murdered.

Feeling scared and suffering with insomnia, Fearon retired from all sport.

“It was tough for all of us. We are all still dealing with it in our own ways,” he said.

“I didn’t think I was ever going to be able to do sport again. I really struggled with anxiety.

“I was becoming afraid to leave my family alone.”

Coming out of retirement to represent Jamaica has given Fearon fresh focus and brought joy to a grieving family.

But he did not necessarily expect to be pushing a sled at another Winter Olympics.

“It was an athlete and coach role, I can do all the jobs across bobsleigh, even just organisational jobs,” said Fearon, who met rapper Snoop Dogg while training in Italy.

“But we ended up getting in the sled. I’ve done six races and won six races, so I’m a pretty good lucky charm.

“I think they’re going to have me pushing a few more times before I’m done,” he joked.

Fearon’s father is Jamaican, while his maternal grandparents are also from the Caribbean island.

“My dad was so proud. I’ve never seen him excited about sport before,” he added.

“I didn’t even know these guys a year ago and they’re all like my brothers, I get more excited about them racing than I do myself racing.

“I’m probably taking on a dad role. Seeing how much they’re excelling, it’s just really exciting for me to watch and wonder where it could go.”