Revealing mistake: The first scene where they are trying their homemade bobsled, right after coach tells them they need 6 seconds flat, they use the same scene when Junior flips over the bobsled (3 times) but from different angles. Twice when coach is timing them and again right after where they are pushing coach in the VW bug. Junior flips over and lands on Brenner, and Sanka does the same 2 spins and lands on his knees. (00:26:45 - 00:27:20)
Continuity mistake: While naming the bobsled "Cool Runnings", one can notice that the Coca-Cola bottles are constantly being switched among the team and coach. There are two types of bottles, some with red labels and others with the original white text design. You will notice that characters will hold 1 bottle and then suddenly it will be switched with the other. And the amount of coke in the bottles never seem to decrease despite them drinking. (01:05:45 - 01:06:50)
Continuity mistake: When the bobsled team is getting their act together in Calgary, there's a scene of them pushing off with an unpainted bobsled. In the shots of the feet of the guys pushing at the back of the sled, you can see that the lower back of the sled is painted black with green stripes, the colours that they paint the sled in a scene a few minutes later.
Factual error: John Candy is at the top of the Calgary Tower having lunch. In the background you see a building called Bankers Hall which is slightly higher than the Calgary tower, that's fine except this was the 1988 Olympics, that building wasn't completed until late 1990.
Revealing mistake: When Junior inadvertently trips Derice and Yul Brenner in the trial run, it's clear that his legs do not come in contact with either men; the actors just threw themselves to the ground. It's particularly noticeable due to this shot being played in slow motion.
Continuity mistake: In Jamaica, when they are practicing with the roughly thrown together bobsled on the dirt road, right after they swerve to avoid the lady on the road and right before the bobsled crashes into the police vehicle, they are going over the rough terrain and the bobsled's front wheel (left side to the viewer) flies off in front of the bobsled from the left side of the screen to the right, but in subsequent shots of the bobsled the wheel is always there.
Visible crew/equipment: When Mr. Coolidge shuts off his TV after Jamaica's first bobsled run, a stage light is reflected in the TV screen.
Continuity mistake: In the final race Blitzer talks to Sanka and at the time he has his goggles on top of his helmet. After he turns around and his goggles are on his helmet.
Factual error: Early 1990s cars are outside the Relax Inn hotel in Calgary.
Factual error: The modern flag (since 1991) of the Russian Federation is at the Olympic Park. In 1988, Russia was still part of the Soviet Union, which used a red flag with a yellow hammer and sickle.
Factual error: The flag of Sri Lanka is visible at Olympic Park. Sri Lanka has never competed in the Winter Olympics.
Chosen answer: They are sprinters and so can run very fast on dry land whilst not pushing a huge metal bobsled. They can pushstart faster than most teams but nowhere near sprinter speeds. Sanka is used to pushstarts like this from his pushcart races and so is able to keep up over the short starts. Also, he is routinely shown struggling to keep up with the other three in all around training.
roboc