Breaking Ice

In 1986 Larry Tracey found himself in Igls, Austria. Having previously driven a bobsleigh in St. Moritz, he wanted to drive the track at Innsbruck but he was told it was for international drivers only. So, Larry decided to become an international bobsleigh driver. Having trialed for Ireland as a rower in the 70s, Larry used his rowing connections to recruit elite Irish rowers and formed the first ever Irish bobsleigh team. Upon returning to Austria, Larry drove the track and the team won their first competition. They set their sights on qualifying for the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary. Against all odds, they qualified for the games and the stage was set for a historic Olympic debut. But just before the team were to fly to Calgary to compete, the Olympic Council of Ireland withdrew their entry. The games would go down in history courtesy of the famous Jamaican bobsleigh team and Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards. Swallowing the bitter disappointment of 1988, the team now had a point to prove. They began to recruit new athletes into the program and they determined themselves to qualify for the 1992 Winter Games in Albertville, France.