Ask Onix
From pizza deliveries to Olympic dreams
Joel Fearon once balanced sprinting in Diamond League meets with delivering pizzas in the evenings to make ends meet. The 37-year-old, born in Coventry, has now become a pivotal figure in Jamaica's bobsleigh team at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, marking his third Games but his first representing the Caribbean nation.
The sprint that changed everything
In 2016, Fearon stunned the athletics world by running the 100m in 9.96 seconds at the England Athletics Championships in Bedford, breaking the 10-second barrier and becoming the fastest man in the UK that year. The achievement came just days after the deadline to qualify for Team GB at the Rio Olympics, leaving him watching from the sidelines.
"I don't know if I ever believed that I could do something like that. It was surreal for a long time because I wasn't one of the British superstar sprinters. But there I was, running sub-10, number one in the country, and I remember thinking anything can happen."
Joel Fearon
Only four British men have ever recorded faster times on UK soil. Despite the setback, the performance became a turning point, reigniting his belief in his potential.
A bobsleigh journey across nations
Fearon's sporting career has been defined by versatility. Initially an athlete, he transitioned to bobsleigh in 2011 after his coach suggested it as a way to support his family. Over 15 years, he has competed for Great Britain, Switzerland, and now Jamaica, earning a bronze medal at the Sochi 2014 Olympics-though it was awarded five years later due to retrospective doping bans.
His path hasn't been smooth. Fearon described the shift to bobsleigh as grueling, involving heavy lifting, mechanical work, and long hours in freezing conditions. "If I didn't hold out on those rough days, I would have never known what was coming in the future," he said.
In 2019, while on loan to Switzerland's bobsleigh team, he won another bronze at the Europe Cup. He played a mentorship role for junior driver Timo Rohner, who is now competing alongside him in Milan-Cortina.
Overcoming personal and physical challenges
Fearon's career has been marred by injuries and personal tragedy. A serious leg injury while running for the British relay team required surgery, with wires now holding his lower leg bones together. The recovery took two years, effectively ending his athletics career.
In 2023, his sister Natasha Morais was murdered, a loss that left Fearon struggling with anxiety and insomnia. He retired from sport, fearing to leave his family alone. "I didn't think I was ever going to be able to do sport again," he admitted.
However, the call to represent Jamaica reignited his passion. Coming out of retirement, he joined the team as a coach and athlete, winning all six races he competed in. "I think they're going to have me pushing a few more times before I'm done," he joked.
A Disney-worthy legacy
Fearon's connection to Jamaica runs deep-his father is Jamaican, and his maternal grandparents hail from the island. Representing Jamaica at the Olympics has been a source of immense pride for his family, particularly his father, who he says has never been more excited about sport.
His journey has drawn parallels to the 1993 film Cool Runnings, which chronicled Jamaica's first bobsleigh team. "I love it, because I watched it when I was 10," Fearon said. "I had no idea I was ever going to have anything to do with bobsleigh at that point, never mind Jamaican bobsleigh. Now I'm a Disney character. It's different."
With fellow sprinter-turned-bobsleigher Mica Moore also competing for Jamaica in Milan-Cortina, Fearon is part of a growing tradition of athletes bridging the gap between track and ice. His role now extends beyond competition-he sees himself as a mentor to his teammates, relishing their success as much as his own.
"We are the most famous team in the world," he said. "So it's for us to go out and do our flag proud."
