ANNAPOLIS — Maryland Gov. Wes Moore took a nostalgic detour from budgets, bridges, and blame-shifting this week to reminisce about his storied past as a member of the Jamaican bobsled team at the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics—an experience he says prepared him for the “high-speed chaos” of modern governance.
Standing before a carefully curated backdrop of ice, steel runners, and what aides insisted was “definitely not a movie poster from Cool Runnings,” Moore spoke warmly of his Olympic days, when teamwork, grit, and aerodynamic spandex allegedly taught him everything he knows about leadership.
“People think governing is about consensus,” Moore said, gazing off as if watching a sled disappear down an icy chute. “But it’s really about hurtling downhill at 80 miles per hour, yelling encouragement, and hoping nobody asks who’s steering.”
According to the governor, his time with the Jamaican bobsled team instilled invaluable lessons—like how to remain upbeat while critics question your qualifications, and how to smile confidently even when the sled appears to be on fire.
“These were formative years,” Moore continued. “I learned how to lean into turns, absorb impacts, and explain afterward that everything went according to plan.”
The governor confirmed that his Olympic journey will soon culminate in induction into the Olympic Hall of Fame, an honor he described as “deeply humbling” and “only slightly more selective than a Maryland advisory commission.”
Sources say Moore’s induction speech will highlight parallels between Olympic competition and state leadership, including the importance of momentum, branding, and pretending you’re not terrified.
“Look, when you’re flying down an ice track with three other guys who barely know you, that’s not so different from navigating Annapolis,” Moore reportedly told staffers. “There’s noise, there’s pressure, and if something crashes, everyone swears they saw it coming.”
Critics, meanwhile, questioned whether Moore actually competed in the Salt Lake City Games, noting a lack of footage showing him on the sled. The governor dismissed those concerns.
“Not everything meaningful leaves a paper trail,” Moore said. “Some things live on in the heart. And in press releases.”
Administration officials hinted that Maryland may soon incorporate Olympic themes into state policy, including a “Bobsled-Based Budgeting Framework” emphasizing speed, minimal oversight, and a strong push at the start followed by an uncontrollable descent.
As the event wrapped up, Moore offered one final reflection on his Olympic legacy.
“You don’t have to win gold to make history,” he said. “Sometimes, just showing up confidently and telling a great story is enough.”
The sled, as they say, has left the track.
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