From James Toney in Beijing

Shannon Abeda has put Hollywood on warning with the perfect script for a Cool Runnings sequel.

Skier Abeda became the first Eritrean to compete at the Winter Olympics in 2018, finishing a distant 61st in the giant slalom, nearly 20 seconds off a medal.

Now he's back in Beijing for another go but in four years wants to swap skis for a bobsleigh.

He said: "I love Cool Runnings, it's my favourite film and if Jamaica can do it then why can't Eritrea?

"I trained a little in bobsleigh before Covid and I think it's doable, it's my dream.

"I want to be able to share this experience with another Eritrean athlete, that would be very special for our country."

There are only six African athlete at these Games, Ghana's Carlos Maeder, Nigeria's Samuel Ikpefan, Morocco's Yassine Aouich and Madagascar's Mathieu Neumuller and Mialitiana Clerc completing the continent's contingent.

Abeda, whose parents fled Eritrea for Canada during its war of independence with Ethiopia, had planned on calling it quits four years ago, following a series of injuries.

But the death of a close friend forced him to re-evaluate, targeting Olympic ambitions in China and beyond.

"Two months before the Olympics in Korea I broke my jaw and after the Games I had seven operations," he added.

“I’ve torn most of the ligaments in my left knee, broken my tibia, had several concussions.

"There were a lot of elements that made it difficult to come back and I am very surprised it did work out. Physically I am in the best shape of my life now and I’m proud of what I’ve achieved.

“I lost a friend who meant a lot to me. He had an aneurysm while he slept. His death was a bit of a scare for me. He was very young, younger than me, and his death left me starting to look at the regrets in my life.

“One of the regrets I had was how I left off after the last Olympics. I’m in a better place mentally and physically for these Games, so I want to do what I know I’m capable of."

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