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Cool Runnings

In November 1987, Jamaican sprinter Derice Bannock trains to compete in the 100 metres race at the forthcoming Summer Olympics, but fails to advance in the trails after fellow runner Junior Bevil accidentally stumbles and falls, knocking down Derice and another competitor, Yul Brenner. Derice petitions for the race to be rerun, but is denied by committee leader Barrington Coolidge, though he shows sympathy for Derice. While in Coolidge's office, Derice sees a photograph of his late father, Ben, standing next to a fellow Olympic gold medalist. Coolidge identifies the man as Irving "Irv" Blitzer, a former bobsled champion who was disqualified for cheating in the 1972 Winter Olympics and now works as a bookie close to Derice's home. Derice realizes he could enter the upcoming Winter Olympics in Calgary by forming a bobsled team, recruiting his friend Sanka Coffie, a pushcart derby champion.

Derice and Sanka track down Blitzer, who initially refuses to help Derice but eventually agrees to coach the team after learning that he is Ben's son. A recruitment drive fails when other athletes see how dangerous bobsledding is, though Junior agrees to join the team as, like Derice, he does not want to wait four years for the next summer Olympics. Yul also joins in order to get off the island, though he is unhappy at having Junior as his team mate, still angry at him for what happened at the trials. The newly-formed team trains with Blitzer, though Coolidge refuses to provide the money needed to participate, believing the team's inexperience will embarrass Jamaica. After Derice fails to find sponsors and he, Sanka and Yul are unsuccessful raising funds themselves, Junior sells his car to finance the trip.

Upon reaching Calgary, Blitzer registers the team and borrows a rundown bobsled from Roger, one of his past teammates. The Jamaicans struggle to adapt to the cold and race conditions but improve through exercise and hard work. Derice begins to copy the techniques of the very efficient Swiss team, while the East German team – the current bobsled world record holders – constantly heckle the Jamaicans during their practices. When the team gets into a bar fight with the East Germans, Blitzer reprimands them and reminds them they are representing all of Jamaica through their actions, inspiring the team to be more serious about their conduct and training in order to qualify for the Olympics.

Overseen by Olympic committee members, which includes Blitzer's former coach Kurt Hemphill, the Jamaican team successfully complete their qualifying run, only to be excluded, supposedly for lack of competitive experience. Blitzer confronts Kemphill, who is still bitter at Blitzer for cheating, and pleads with him not to punish the Jamaicans for his past actions. The team is reinstated, and Junior, with encouragement from Yul, rebuffs his father's attempt to bring him home, firmly stating his intent to compete for Jamaica. The team's first run in competition puts them in last place, with Sanka unhappy with Derice for copying the Swiss team and believes they need to find their own rhythm. On the second day of competition they significantly improve, but on the final run their bobsled flips and crashes. Determined to finish the race, the team pick up their sled and carry it over the finish line, to the applause of other teams spectators, including all those who had doubted and ridiculed them. An epilogue says that the team returned to Jamaica as heroes, and returned to the Winter Olympics four years later to participate as equals.