Bobsleigh at the 2010 Winter Olympics

Bobsleigh
at the XXI Olympic Winter Games
VenueWhistler Sliding Centre
DatesFebruary 20–27, 2010
Competitors159 from 23 nations
Bobsleigh at the 2010 Winter Olympics
Two   men   women
Four   men  

The bobsleigh competition of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics was held at the Whistler Sliding Centre between 20 and 27 February 2010.

Medal summary

Medal table

 Rank  Nation Gold Silver Bronze Total
1 Germany 1 2 0 3
2 Canada 1 1 1 3
3 United States 1 0 1 2
4 Russia 0 0 1 1
Total 3 3 3 9

Events

Three bobsleigh events were held at Vancouver 2010:

Event Gold Silver Bronze
Two-man
 Germany (GER)
André Lange
Kevin Kuske 		3:26.65  Germany (GER)
Thomas Florschütz
Richard Adjei 		3:26.87  Russia (RUS)
Alexandr Zubkov
Alexey Voyevoda 		3:27.51
Four-man
 United States (USA)
Steve Holcomb
Steve Mesler
Curtis Tomasevicz
Justin Olsen 		3:24.46  Germany (GER)
André Lange
Kevin Kuske
Alexander Rödiger
Martin Putze 		3:24.84  Canada (CAN)
Lyndon Rush
David Bissett
Lascelles Brown
Chris le Bihan 		3:24.85
Two-woman
 Canada (CAN)
Kaillie Humphries
Heather Moyse 		3:32.28  Canada (CAN)
Helen Upperton
Shelley-Ann Brown 		3:33.13  United States (USA)
Erin Pac
Elana Meyers		 3:33.40

Competition schedule

All times are Pacific Standard Time (UTC-8).

Day Date Start Finish Event Phase
Day 9 Saturday 2010-02-20 17:00 19:40 Two-Man Heats 1 and 2
Day 10 Sunday 2010-02-21 13:30 15:50 Two-Man Heats 3 and 4
Day 12 Tuesday 2010-02-23 17:00 19:00 Women Heats 1 and 2
Day 13 Wednesday 2010-02-24 17:00 19:00 Women Heats 3 and 4
Day 15 Friday 2010-02-26 13:00 15:45 Four-Man Heats 1 and 2
Day 16 Saturday 2010-02-27 13:00 15:25 Four-Man Heats 3 and 4

Practice

Germany's André Lange had the fastest time in two-man practice on the night of 17 February 2010. There were eight crashes among 57 runs taken that night.[1] Three crashes occurred during the 18 February 2010 two-man training session.[2][3] Among the crashes in the two-man event were Switzerland's Beat Hefti and Daniel Schmid who both withdrew from the two man event.[2] Meanwhile Latvia's Janis Minins withdrew to appendicitis and the emergency surgery that followed on 12 February.[2][4] Minins returned to competition for the four-man event eleven days later.[4]

Supplemental training was offered on 19 February 2010 to both the two-woman and four-man bobsleigh events out of caution and further preparation for both events in the that would take place the following week.[5] American bobsledder Shona Rohbock expressed concerns on the 19th that the track could generate speeds that are too dangerous for racing.[6] She stated that she had never experienced speeds at even bobsleigh track she had experienced, event at the St. Moritz track.[6] Officials had told Rohbock that they are considering sanding the runners to slow down the sleds to slow down the speeds.[6] Elana Meyers, an American brakewoman, commented on Twitter that same day that "We (referring to her and her driver Erin Pac) went 145 km/h (90 mph).. that's fast!"[6] One crash occurred on the 19th for the two-woman event when Dutch bobsledder Esme Kamphuis crashed out in the final corners of the track.[6]

Minor changes were made to the track on 22 February 2010 after bobsleigh four-man teams from Latvia and Croatia rolled over in supplementary training.[7] Following a meeting with 11 team captains, training runs were postponed by the FIBT until later that day to adjust the shape of turn 11 so it would be easier for sleds to get through the rest of the track without crashing.[7] FIBT spokesman Don Krone stated that "...some drivers have been experiencing difficulties transitioning from turn 11 to turn 12."[7] As a result, Krone stated that "The FIBT track commission, in conjunction with VANOC and with advice from a number of team captains, are working on the shape of turn 11 to make it easier for drivers to get high enough on 11 to turn 12 so that they can successfully make it through turn 13."[7] Krone also stated that it was common that the profile of corners were changed when it was being used by other sliding disciplines (luge and skeleton).[7]

After track alterations were done on 23 February 2010, the two fastest four-man times were done by Germany's Lange and the United States' Holcomb.[8] Australia withdrew its four-man team on 23 February 2010 to two of its crew members, Duncan Harvey and Duncan Pugh, suffering concussions. Australia chef de mission Ian Chesterman stated that the decision was not taken lightly and was done on the side of safety.[9] Meanwhile, Latvia's Janis Minins returned to practice on the 23rd in the wake of the emergency surgery on 12 February in the wake of an appendicitis attack.[4]

Lange had the fastest practice times on the 24th with the final two practices taking place on the 25th.[10] That same day, Australia withdrew to injuries to Harvey and Pugh of Australia while Edwin van Calker of the Netherlands withdrew to a lack of confidence of driving the four-man sled during the event.[10] This was also despite no crashes during four-man training had taken place prior to the 24th.[10] The Dutch team supported van Calker's decision on this.[10] Minins withdrew from the four-man event on the 25th to crashing twice during practice where one of his crews suffering a concussion and another suffering bruised lungs and elbows.[11]

Qualifying

Athlete/NOC quota

170 athletes are allowed to compete in accordance with the International Olympic Committee and the International Bobsleigh and Tobogganing Federation (FIBT). This includes 130 for two-man and four-man bobsleigh (30 teams for each type of men's bobsleigh), and 40 for two-woman bobsleigh (20 teams).[12]

Qualification system

The best result of each driver will be ranked by the FIBT, including World Cup and lesser known Cup. These races scored are the same ones as the World Cup event. These driver must rank among the top 50 in the FIBT for the 2009–10 season by 17 January 2010, held at St. Moritz, Switzerland. For men's bobsleigh, three countries can send three teams, seven countries can send two teams, and seven more countries can send one team (Applies to both two-man and four-man). For women's bobsleigh, two countries can send three teams, four countries can send two teams, and six countries can send one team. For all three events, the host country is included provided they meet the minimum requirements.[12] Each NOC declared their entries on 22 January 2010.[12] Entering the World Cup event in St. Moritz, the top two countries to have three two-woman teams were Germany and the United States.[13] For two-man, the top three countries to have three teams were Germany, Switzerland, and the United States while for four-man, the three countries to have three teams were Germany, Russia, and the United States.[13] This was announced on 20 January 2010.[14] Reallocation was announced on 26 January 2010.[15]

Nations Two-man [16] Four-man [17] Two-woman [18]
Australia 2 1 1
Austria 2 1 0
Belgium 0 0 1
Canada 2 2 2
Croatia 0 1 0
Czech Republic 1 2 0
Germany 3 3 3
Great Britain 1 1 2
Ireland 0 0 1
Italy 2 1 1
Japan 1 1 1
Latvia 2 2 0
Liechtenstein 1 1 0
Monaco 1 0 0
Netherlands 1 1 1
Poland 1 1 0
Romania 1 1 1
Russia 2 3 2
Serbia 0 1 0
South Korea 0 1 0
Slovakia 1 1 0
Switzerland 3 2 2
United States 3 3 3
Total: 23 NOCs 30 30 21 [note 1]

Austria declined their second spot in the four men event. Australia takes this spot instead.

Notes
  1. ↑ Following an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, Australia were awarded an additional spot in the two-woman bobsled competition. The Australian appeal was based on the grounds that Oceania was not represented in the competition.[19]

Competing nations

The following nations have entered the following number of athletes.

References

  1. ↑ [http://www.fibt.com/index.php?id=88&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=1316&tx_ttnews[backPid]=2&cHash=9071368f93 Lange Among Leaders in 2-Ma Bob Training.] at the Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing (18 February 2010 article accessed 18 February 2010.)
  2. 1 2 3 [http://www.fibt.com/index.php?id=88&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=1391&tx_ttnews[backPid]=2&cHash=7f3ce78390 Lange Seeks to defend Two-Man Olympic Title.] at the Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing (20 February 2010 article accessed 20 February 2010.
  3. ↑ "Bobsleigh-Injuries leave Swiss in disarray." – Martyn Herman 19 February 2010 Yahoo! Sports article accessed 20 February 2010.
  4. 1 2 3 "Bobsleigh-Latvian wildman flies again after hiccup hell". – 23 February 2010 Martyn Herman Yahoo! Sports article accessed 24 February 2010.
  5. ↑ [http://www.fibt.com/index.php?id=88&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=1326&tx_ttnews[backPid]=2&cHash=50036f3ec3 Supplementary Bobsleigh Training Offered in Whistler.] at the Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing (19 February 2010 article accessed 19 February 2010.)
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "US bobsledder: Whistler track 'stupid fast'". – Tom Withers (AP) Yahoo! Sports 20 February 2010 article accessed 20 February 2010.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "Bobsleigh-Whistler track tweaked after further spills". – 22 February 2010 Martyn Herman Yahoo! Sports article accessed 23 February 2010.
  8. ↑ "Bobsleigh-Lange quickest in training as track mellows." – 23 February 2010 Yahoo! Sports Martyn Herman article accessed 24 February 2010.
  9. ↑ "Bobsleigh-Concussed Australians out of four-man race." – 23 February 2010 Yahoo! Sports Martyn Herman article accessed 24 February 2010.
  10. 1 2 3 4 [http://www.fibt.com/index.php?id=88&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=1451&tx_ttnews[backPid]=2&cHash=cf613e7c54 Lange Among Top 4-Man Pilots in Training.] at the Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing (24 February 2010 article accessed 25 February 2010.)
  11. ↑ "Latvia withdraws from four-man event". – AP Yahoo! Sports 25 February 2010 article accessed 27 February 2010.
  12. 1 2 3 [http://www.fibt.com/index.php?id=88&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=1006&tx_ttnews[backPid]=2&cHash=215e63f301 World Cup Action Resumes in Koeningsee.] at the Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing (7 January 2010 FIBT article accessed 8 January 2010.)
  13. 1 2 [http://www.fibt.com/index.php?id=88&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=1081&tx_ttnews[backPid]=2&cHash=0cd6bf0f1d Olympic Qualifying at Stake in St. Moritz.] at the Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing (14 January 2010 article accessed 15 January 2010.)
  14. ↑ [http://www.fibt.com/index.php?id=88&tx_ttnews[pointer]=1&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=1156&tx_ttnews[backPid]=171&cHash=7988d5c32b FIBT Announces Olympic Qualifying Quotas.] at the Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing (20 January 2010 article accessed 25 January 2010.)
  15. ↑ [http://www.fibt.com/index.php?id=88&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=1231&tx_ttnews[backPid]=2&cHash=4d8e3a6464 Olympic Quota Updated After Reallocation.] at the Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing (26 January 2010 article accessed 27 January 2010.)
  16. ↑ 26 January 2010 FIBT bobsleigh two-man final quota for the 2010 Winter Olympics. – accessed 27 January 2010.
  17. ↑ 26 January 2010 FIBT bobsleigh four-man final quota for the 2010 Winter Olympics. – accessed 27 January 2010.
  18. ↑ 26 January 2010 FIBT bobsleigh two-woman final quota for the 2010 Winter Olympics. – accessed 27 January 2010.
  19. ↑ "Australian pair bob up to sleigh their detractors". 11 February 2010 Sydney Morning Herald. – accessed 10 February 2010.

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