When Jamaican sprinter Derice Bannock fails to qualify for the Summer Olympics due to an accident caused by fellow runner Junior Bevil, he decides to switch gears and form the country's first bobsled team. With the help of his friend and pushcart driver Sanka Coffie, they recruit two other athletes, Yul Brenner and Junior Bevil, to try out for the team.
However, they soon realize that they need a coach to help them succeed in the sport. They reach out to former Olympic medalist and disgraced coach Irv Blitzer, who initially rebuffs their offer due to his painful past involving cheating and betraying his teammates. However, after a change of heart, Blitzer agrees to train the Jamaican team and help them overcome obstacles ranging from inadequate funding to harsh weather conditions.
Despite facing ridicule and disbelief from the other competitors and spectators, the Jamaican bobsled team perseveres and proves their worth by making it to the Winter Olympics in Calgary. Along the way, they learn valuable lessons about teamwork, sportsmanship, and determination, and earn the respect and admiration of fans around the world - including the team from East Germany, who they famously push across the finish line after their sled crashes.