North Yorkshire athlete Axel Brown is preparing for his second and final Olympic appearance as pilot of the Trinidad and Tobago bobsleigh team at the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games. The 33-year-old from Harrogate, who previously competed for the Caribbean nation at Beijing 2022, will steer the sled at speeds approaching 100mph (160km/h) in what he confirms will be his Olympic swan song.
Brown’s unconventional journey to winter sports began twelve years ago when, after being released from an American football team just before the Sochi 2014 Olympics, he discovered bobsleigh through television coverage. “You don’t grow up in Harrogate thinking you’re going to be an Olympic bobsleigher,” Brown reflects on his unexpected career path.
After seven years competing for Great Britain, Brown made the strategic decision in 2021 to represent his mother’s native Trinidad and Tobago. As pilot, his responsibilities extend beyond mere participation. “I steer the sled to ensure we’re efficient, smooth and don’t crash – because that’s a very real part of the sport,” he explains of the technically demanding role.
The Harrogate athlete acknowledges the psychological dimensions of the sport, noting that even at slower courses reaching 70mph (113km/h), bobsleigh requires “a healthy level of fear.” He maintains that complacency could be dangerous, stating: “If there’s a day when I was completely not scared of bobsleigh, that’s probably the day to walk away.”
Brown’s previous Olympic performance saw him finish 28th out of 30 teams in the two-man event at Beijing 2022, ahead of Jamaica and Brazil. However, he considers qualification for Milano Cortina 2026 his true “gold medal” moment, achieved under significantly more challenging circumstances. With reduced nation spots and requiring top-17 global ranking, Brown describes the qualification process as “right at the limit of what was possible.”
For his final Games, Brown embraces modest ambitions under the banner “Operation Don’t Come Last,” while anticipating the emotional significance of competing with family present after COVID restrictions prevented their attendance in Beijing. Beyond his athletic career, the self-described non-thrill-seeker plans to convert a barn for residential purposes with his partner, embracing a quieter life after retirement from breakneck speeds.