Trinidad and Tobago’s Axel Brown says the journey to their podium finish in the fourth round of the North American Cup in Park City, Utah, was as much about teamwork as it was about results.

Brown’s declaration came as he reflected on the recently concluded event, which marked a significant milestone for the four-man bobsleigh team—Thomas Harris, Xaverri Williams, De Aundre John, and Brown—as they tied with Canada for fourth place, earning an extended podium medal, awarded to fourth- to sixth-place finishers.

“This result is coming off the back of a few different but exciting things that lead to a promising future. This year we’ve had vastly more capable athletes than we have spots on the ice. So we’ve been able to implement minimum standards for our selection, which in turn means we’ve been able to select a really strong team of athletes,” Brown shared.

“But more than that, we’ve been able to select a team that can work well together. Now that we have a solid group, the results will keep coming the more we learn about each other and work towards this common goal,” he added.

The path to the podium wasn’t without its hurdles. On the first race day, December 6, the team faced an unexpected challenge when Williams’ race suit ripped, catching his hand as he loaded into the sled. Despite this, they clocked a respectable 47.98 seconds on their first run.

An accident during the women’s race postponed their second run to the following day, but the team made the most of the opportunity.

This, as they produced a stronger start on December 7 and registered a 5.01-second push, which resulted in a 48.17-second clocking. Their combined time of 1:36.15 matched Canada’s, securing a shared fourth-place finish.

The United States finished first (1:35.46) and second (1:35.72), with Brazil claiming third (1:35.84).

For Brown, the team’s first podium of the season is more than just a medal—it’s a stepping stone. Currently ranked 23rd in the world on the four-man bobsleigh standings, the team is setting its sights high.

Brown noted that their Utah clocking would have been enough for gold at the same event two years ago, a reflection of how the sport has evolved as teams prepare for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.

“Hopefully, we can maintain or improve our ranking throughout the season. That would leave us in a very strong position heading into the Olympic season next year,” Brown noted.

Brown’s vision for the sport extends beyond the men’s four-man team, as he also has plans to develop women’s, junior men’s, and skeleton teams to broaden Trinidad and Tobago’s representation on the global stage.