Bobsleigh at the 2018 Olympics: Everything You Need to Know
For those of you following the Olympics, this week is a good time to do some bobsledding because training runs start on Thursday. If everything you know about Olympic bobsleigh starts and ends with Cool Runs , you can learn a little more.
First of all, you are probably wondering about the difference between bobsleigh and bobsleigh: “sled” is the official term used by the Olympic Games and also in the name of the International Federation of Bobsleigh and Toboggan. Or the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Sports Federation ( IBSF ). But American commentators are likely to say “sleigh” when referring to the same sport, even though it’s more fun to shout “Bob SLI!”
The Swiss invented bobsleigh in the late 1860s by combining two frame sleds and a steering gear. Then, after the sport became popular, a more durable chassis was added as it added some degree of safety when sliding at high speeds on icy trails. According to Mental Floss, they are mostly controlled by the navigator in front, which pulls on ropes connected to the runners inside for steering. Other people in the sled can also steer by shifting their weight from side to side, although they usually lower their heads and remain as still as possible after takeoff.
The man behind is the brake. They stop the whole mechanism at the end of the race to prevent the entire team from flying into the stratosphere. There are teams of two and teams of four. In teams of four, there are no two useless people caught in the middle; they are sometimes called push athletes and are extremely important for gaining speed. The sled itself weighs hundreds of pounds and it is imperative for the bob to get a really good start. How Stuff Works reports that people trying out for bobsleigh teams are often recruited from sports that prioritize strength and sprint, such as soccer.
How is it assessed?
According to the Denver Post, bobsleigh is rated the same as luge . Each team gets a certain number of runs over several days and wins the cumulative result. All teams receive four runs over two days, and when run times add up, medals are awarded over time. To be very clear, you want to be the fastest in the shortest amount of time.
Who are we looking at this year?
The Washington Post reports that the Nigeria women’s team will not take a seat, but they are the first athletes to ever come to the Olympics from their country, and the first African team to ever qualify for bobsleigh. So, I know who I’m rooting for: Ngozi Onwumer, Akuoma Omega and Seun Adigun.
The US women’s team is expected to do well, as Elana Meyers Taylor and Jamie Grebel Poser excelled at the World Championships and won silver and bronze medals respectively at the Sochi Olympics. But on the male side, the team may have difficulty filling the hole left by pilot Stephen Holcomb, who passed away unexpectedly last year at the age of 37. Teams of four are technically heterosexual, for your information, but most of the time they are all men. …
The gold medal in Sochi was won by Russian Alexander Zubkov, who was not allowed to compete in Pyeongchang due to the widespread doping scandal in Russia after the games. Some bans for 2018 were lifted , but Zubkov did not receive a pass. You can watch any potential drama unfold starting February 15, and keep an eye on the schedule here .