## Dramatic Crashes Rock 4-Man Bobsled Competition at 2026 Winter Olympics
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy – The second heats of the 4-man bobsled competition at the Cortina Sliding Centre were marred by a series of dramatic crashes on Saturday, with teams from Austria, France, and Trinidad & Tobago all experiencing sleds tipping over around the challenging Curve 7. The incident has sent ripples through the competition, highlighting the inherent risks of the sport.
The Austrian team, piloted by Jakob Mandlbauer alongside Daniel Bertschler, Sebastian Mitterer, and Daiyehan Nichols-Bardi, was among those involved in the unsettling spectacle. Their sled overturned, leading to a temporary halt in the competition as medical personnel rushed to the scene. Thankfully, a team official confirmed that there were “no injuries,” though Mandlbauer was transported to the hospital for precautionary checks.
“Jakob is on his way to hospital,” explained Christoph Iglhauser, Austrian team press attaché, to *The Athletic*. “He’s not so bad. It’s just a check. Everyone else is fine. No injury, only a check. He’ll be fine.”
Similar misfortune befell the French team, consisting of pilot Romain Heinrich, Nils Blairon, Dorian Hauterville, and Antoine Riou, as well as the Trinidad & Tobago squad led by pilot Axel Brown, with Shakeel John, Aundre de John, and Xaverri Williams. All athletes from these teams were able to walk away from the scene, though the crashes resulted in a “Did Not Finish” designation for each team, effectively disqualifying them from contention.
### A Challenging Track
The Cortina Sliding Centre’s 1,750-meter track, featuring 16 curves, has already proven to be a formidable challenge for competitors. Curve 7, the site of Saturday’s incidents, and Curve 4, where Team USA pilot Frank Del Duca crashed during a November training run, have been identified as particularly tricky sections. Del Duca’s crash resulted in a concussion for push athlete Charlie Volker, ultimately leading to his retirement from bobsled.
USA Bobsled & Skeleton has been closely monitoring athlete safety following these incidents.
### Reactions from Competitors
Canadian pilot Jay Dearborn expressed the sentiment shared by many in the bobsled community. “Sitting in the leader box, it’s tough to see,” he said. “Sleds going over in the Olympics, you don’t really want to see that. You don’t want to climb positions that way. You want to beat teams at their best.”
According to bobsled regulations, all four team members must cross the finish line with their sled for a run to be considered valid. The crashes resulted in disqualification for the affected teams, none of whom were in medal contention.
### Current Standings
Despite the setbacks, the competition continues. Austria’s remaining sled, piloted by Markus Treichl, currently sits in 10th place heading into Sunday’s final run. Germany continues to dominate the competition, with Johannes Lochner leading the pack. They previously swept the 2-man event earlier in the week.
As Dearborn aptly put it, “Any sport has risks… You know about them, and you try not to think about them for too long, and try to perform on race day, on training days to keep yourself safe.” The dramatic events at Cortina d’Ampezzo serve as a stark reminder of the courage and resilience required to compete at the highest level of bobsledding.
**Source:** This report includes contributions from Matt Slater and Zack Pierce of *The Athletic*.
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