Set in the 90s featuring a group of misfits and their down-on-his-luck coach, Cool Runnings is an iconic movie that has thrilled audiences for over three decades. But behind all its entertaining hijinks lies a remarkable true story:
From 1988 to 2002 Jamaica sent at least one bobsled team to compete in every Winter Olympic Games! Despite coming from such warm temperatures – achieving 14th place finish just six years ago – this incredible feat shows how far determination and hard work can get you. Who knows what could come next?
To commemorate this inspiring, yet hilarious, classic film we’ve put together a list of 40 Cool Runnings quotes. Whether you’re looking for an inspirational quote to keep you motivated or just need some lighthearted humor, there is something here for everyone!
Cool Runnings
- “Sanka mon, whatcha smoking?” – Derice
- “I’m not smoking, I’m breathing!” – Sanka
- “Seemin’ to you nobody likes us?” – Junior
- “Gentlemen, a bobsled is a simple thing.” – Irv
- “Hey coach, how will I know if I’m enough? – Derice
- “That’s a hell of a place to be coming from!” – Sanka
- “I’m feeling very Olympic today. How about you?” – Sanka
- Derice, why are you hitting the teammates’ helmets? – Sanka
- “This is what the Swiss do to psyche themselves up.” – Derice
- “I’ll give you a buck if you would just shut up.” – Old Man
- “When you cross that finish line tomorrow, you’ll know.” – Irv
- “How about ‘Cool Runnings’? Means peace be the journey.”- Derice
- “You may as well put training wheels on their bobsled.” – by Josef
- “You mean winter, as in igloos and Eskimos and penguins and ice?” – Sanka
- “Derice: How you feeling Sanka? Do you feel like you died? Sanka: Yes I do.”
- “We aren’t like everyone else. People are scared of what they don’t know.” – by Yul
- “Feel the rhythm! Feel the rhyme! Get on up, it’s bobsled time! Cool runnings!”- Sanka
- “How about I draw a line down the middle of your head so it looks like a butt?” – Sanka
- “They also make them little pocket knives, too, but I don’t see you doing that.” – Sanka
- “Tallulah! Hahaha! Tallulah! Sounds like a 2 dollar hooker! Where you come up with that? – Sanka
- “Maid service sir. Would you like your bed turned down? Mint? Perhaps I could dust your head?” – Sanka
- “Jamaican Woman 1: That one right there is a handsome man. Jamaican Woman 2: I could stare at him all day long.”
- “Well the right foot for us is not the Swiss foot. I mean come on Derice, we can’t be copying nobody else’s style. We have our own style.” – Sanka
- “I had to win. You see, Derice, I had made winning my whole life, and when you make winning your whole life, you have to keep on winning, no matter what.” – Irv
- “Yul: We can fight right now. I will kick your butt. Sanka: I have a better option. What about I put a mark in the middle of your head so it looks like your butt.”
- “When you need something from me…All you have to do is..say, “you are my best friend and we have been through a whole heap together and I really, really need you.” – Sanka
- “I’m trying to tell you what type of person you are. You are a barbarian who eats raw met. You are an idiot who can only count if you use your feet or your shoes.” – by Sanka
- “Sanka: Derice, why are you hitting the teammates helmets? Derice: The Swiss do it to boost their confidence. Sanka: The Swiss also make pocket knives, but you’re not doing that.”
- “Whether you win or lose a bobsled race, it’s all about right here, the push-start! And this is where you’re gonna learn about the push- start, is right here in a Volkswagen!” – Irv
- “I’ll tell you why I had to cheat, Derice. When you are used to winning you become obsessed with winning. You are determined to win no matter what you have to do in order to do it.” – by Irv
- “Oh, yeah, just one little drawback to this delightful winter sport. The high-speed crash. Ooh! That hurt. Always remember, your bones will not break in a bobsled. No, no, no. They shatter.” -Irv
- “Unfortunately there’s a problem with this great sport. You may end up crashing and it will hurt. Keep this thought in mind. An accident in a bobsled will not break your bones. Your bones will shatter.” – by Irv
- “Dig where I’m coming from. I’m coming from two gold medals. I’m coming from nine world records in both the two and four-man events. I’m coming from ten years of intense competition with the best athletes in the world.” – Irv
- “Irv: Do you see what I mean? I have two gold medals. I have nine world records in more than one event. I have 10 years of experience in competitive sports with the best competitors in the universe. Sanka: That’s a great place to come from.”
- “Yul: Take a hard look at yourself in the mirror. Junior: I see myself in the mirror. Yul: You see yourself? I’ll tell you what I see when I look in the mirror. I see a person with pride. I see a powerful person. I see a person who doesn’t take anything from anyone.”
- “So am I, and the best I can be is Jamaican. Look, Derice… I’ve known you since Julie Jeffreys asked to see your ding-a-ling and I’m telling you as a friend if we look Jamaican, walk Jamaican, talk Jamaican and is Jamaican, then we sure as hell better bobsled Jamaican.” -Sanka
- “Irv: It is great to have a gold medal. If you don’t believe that you’re somebody without a gold medal, you will never believe that you are somebody with a gold medal. Derice: When will I know if I am somebody? Irv: When you make it across the line you will know that you’re somebody.”
- “It doesn’t matter if they come in first or 50th. Those guys have earned the right to represent their country. They’ve earned the right to march into that stadium and wave their nation’s flag. That’s the single greatest honor an athlete can ever have. That’s what the Olympics are about.” – Irv
- “Yul: You’re invading my space, big head. Junior: I like that one. Yul: Why are you laughing? Junior: No reason. Yul: I would be in the Olympics if it weren’t for you. Sanka: I don’t see the point in you arguing when Derice was going to beat you anyway. Yul: I don’t even know what you’re talking about.”
- “Kids: Which one of you is the captain of the team? Who’s our friend? He’s a nice guy who doesn’t look too bad. It’s Sanka! Sanka: Get back to work kids. Derice: Who’s that big windbag? Who is the one who doesn’t like to comb his hair? Who is the one who doesn’t take a shower and doesn’t seem to care? It’s Sanka!”
- “Derice: Let me give it a try. If it doesn’t work out, we can just forget about it. Irv: Take it from me. You will not make it. Derice: You were convinced my father could make it. Irv: Your father was one of the best runners ever. He was able to run 100 meters in no time at all. Derice: I can do it faster than him.”
- “Your placement in the Olympics doesn’t matter. You can be first or you can be last. You’re opponents earned the chance to be the representatives of their country. They deserve to be the ones to walk into the stadium and hold up their flag. That’s the best thing an athlete can do. It’s what’s so special about the Olympics.” – by Irv
- “Sanka: Let me inform you about something, Derice. If you want me to do something, don’t lie to me. You can look in my eyes and tell me that we are best friends who have been through a lot. You can say I need you. Derice: Okay, Sanka. We are best friends who have been through a lot. Sanka: I need your help. Derice: I need your help.”
- “Derice: The trials have finally arrived. I am still in shock. Joy: Are you scared? Derice: I’m not scared. I am ready for them. I’ve been ready my whole life. I am not concerned with how fast they are. I will be faster. They may want it, but I will always want it more. I will be at the Olympics. I know it. I will win the gold medal. Joy: Are you scared? Derice: Beyond belief.”
- “Derice: Please allow us to do the race over. Mr. Coolidge: I’m sorry I can’t do that. My hands are tied. Derice: I was made for this competition. Mr. Coolidge: Then you have to do more work on it. Try working on your boxing and cycling skills. Boxing and cycling are the only two sports Jamaica can compete in at the Olympics. Derice: I can’t be a boxer. I only know how to run. This isn’t fair to me. Mr. Coolidge: Life isn’t fair kid.”
- “Sanka: What is that, Derice? Derice: It’s a bobsled, Sanka. Sanka: It looks like a cart with no wheels. Derice: That’s exactly what it is. Here is the book for you to check out. Sanka: The way to become a successful team is to have a good driver and three runners to push the sled on the ice. Wait a minute! Derice: What’s the problem? Sanka: Cold weather? Are your serious? We have to be on ice? Derice: What did you expect? It’s a winter sport. Sanka: Winter sport? You are talking about ice! Derice: I could be talking about ice. Sanka: Let me get this straight. You are talking about ice as in igloos and where the Eskimos live? Derice: Maybe. Sanka: Goodbye. Derice: Where do you think you’re going? Sanka: I want to get in the hot tub because I’m getting cold thinking about the ice.”
Wrapping Up
These 40 Cool Runnings quotes encapsulate the spirit of determination and hard work. They will inspire you to never give up on your dreams, no matter how daunting they may seem. With support from friends, family and teammates, anything is possible! So don’t forget who said what and use these quotes to motivate yourself to greatness. Go for it! Be the best you can be.
