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Bobsleigh at the Winter Olympics facts for kids

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Bobsleigh at the Winter Olympics
Bobsleigh pictogram.svg
Governing body IBSF
Events 4 (men: 2; women: 2)
Games
  • 1924
  • 1928
  • 1932
  • 1936
  • 1948
  • 1952
  • 1956
  • 1960
  • 1964
  • 1968
  • 1972
  • 1976
  • 1980
  • 1984
  • 1988
  • 1992
  • 1994
  • 1998
  • 2002
  • 2006
  • 2010
  • 2014
  • 2018
  • Medalists

Bobsleigh is an event in the Winter Olympic Games where a two- or four-person team drives a specially designed sled down an ice track, with the winning team completing the route with the fastest time. The event has been featured since the first Winter Games in 1924 in Chamonix, France, with the exception of the 1960 games in Squaw Valley when the organizing committee decided not to build a track in order to reduce expenses. Other than that exception, the four-man competition has been competed at every game (in 1928, it was a five-man competition). The two-man event was introduced at the 1932 Lake Placid games and a two-woman event was first contested at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics.

Events

Event 24 28 32 36 48 52 56 60 64 68 72 76 80 84 88 92 94 98 02 06 10 14 18 22 Years
Four-man • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 23
Two-man • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 21
Two-woman • • • • • • 6
Women's monobob • 1
Total events 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 4

Medal leaders

AndreLangeKevinKuskeVancouver2010
Kevin Kuske (left) and André Lange (pilot) are the most successful Olympic bobsledders, both have five medals, of which four are gold medals attained in three consecutive Olympics.
Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1989-0311-034, Detlef Richter, Bogdan Musiol
Bogdan Musiol (brakeman) won seven Olympic medals (one gold, five silvers and one bronze in four consecutive Olympics).

Athletes who have won multiple medals (including at least one gold) are listed below.

Men

Athlete NOC Event Olympics Gold Silver Bronze Total
Kuske, KevinKevin Kuske  Germany (GER) 4-man
2-man		 2002–2018 4 2 0 6
Lange, AndréAndré Lange  Germany (GER) 4-man
2-man		 2002–2010 4 1 0 5
Friedrich, FrancescoFrancesco Friedrich  Germany (GER) 4-man
2-man		 2018-2022 4 0 0 4
Margis, ThorstenThorsten Margis  Germany (GER) 4-man
2-man		 2018-2022 4 0 0 4
Germeshausen, BernhardBernhard Germeshausen  East Germany (GDR) 4-man
2-man		 1976–1980 3 1 0 4
Nehmer, MeinhardMeinhard Nehmer  East Germany (GDR) 4-man
2-man		 1976–1980 3 0 1 4
Hoppe, WolfgangWolfgang Hoppe  East Germany (GDR)
 Germany (GER)		 4-man
2-man		 1984–1994 2 3 1 6
Monti, EugenioEugenio Monti  Italy (ITA) 4-man
2-man		 1956,
1964–1968		 2 2 2 6
Acklin, DonatDonat Acklin  Switzerland (SUI) 4-man
2-man		 1992–1994 2 1 1 4
Weder, GustavGustav Weder  Switzerland (SUI) 4-man
2-man		 1992–1994 2 1 1 4
Zimmermann, MarkusMarkus Zimmermann  Germany (GER) 4-man
2-man		 1992–2002 2 1 1 4
Schauerhammer, DietmarDietmar Schauerhammer  East Germany (GDR) 4-man
2-man		 1984–1988 2 1 0 3
Langen, ChristophChristoph Langen  Germany (GER) 4-man
2-man		 1992,
1998–2002		 2 0 2 4
Bauer, CandyCandy Bauer  Germany (GER) 4-man 2018-2022 2 0 0 2
De Paolis, LucianoLuciano De Paolis  Italy (ITA) 4-man
2-man		 1968 2 0 0 2
Fiske, BillyBilly Fiske  United States (USA) 4-man
5-man		 1928–1932 2 0 0 2
Gray, CliffordClifford Gray  United States (USA) 4-man
5-man		 1928–1932 2 0 0 2
Hampel, OlafOlaf Hampel  Germany (GER) 4-man 1994–1998 2 0 0 2
Nieberl, LorenzLorenz Nieberl  West Germany (FRG) 4-man
2-man		 1952 2 0 0 2
Ostler, AndreasAndreas Ostler  West Germany (FRG) 4-man
2-man		 1952 2 0 0 2
Musiol, BogdanBogdan Musiol  East Germany (GDR)
 Germany (GER)		 4-man
2-man		 1980–1992 1 5 1 7
Benz, JosephJoseph Benz  Switzerland (SUI) 4-man
2-man		 1976–1980 1 2 1 4
Lehmann, BernhardBernhard Lehmann  East Germany (GDR) 4-man
2-man		 1976,
1984–1988		 1 2 1 4
Schärer, ErichErich Schärer  Switzerland (SUI) 4-man
2-man		 1976–1980 1 2 1 4
Steven Holcomb  United States (USA) 4-man
2-man		 2010–2014 1 2 0 3
Martin, PatrickPatrick Martin  United States (USA) 4-man
2-man		 1948–1952 1 2 0 3
Zimmerer, WolfgangWolfgang Zimmerer  West Germany (FRG) 4-man
2-man		 1972–1976 1 1 2 4
Beerli, JosephJoseph Beerli  Switzerland (SUI) 4-man
2-man		 1936 1 1 0 2
Gerhardt, Hans-JürgenHans-Jürgen Gerhardt  East Germany (GDR) 4-man
2-man		 1980 1 1 0 2
Lueders, PierrePierre Lueders  Canada (CAN) 2-man 1994–2006 1 1 0 2
Meier, KurtKurt Meier  Switzerland (SUI) 4-man 1988–1994 1 1 0 2
O'Brien, JayJay O'Brien  United States (USA) 4-man
5-man		 1928–1932 1 1 0 2
Putze, MartinMartin Putze  Germany (GER) 4-man 2006–2010 1 1 0 2
Tomasevicz, CurtisCurtis Tomasevicz  United States (USA) 4-man 2010–2014 1 1 0 2
Hefti, BeatBeat Hefti  Switzerland (SUI) 4-man
2-man		 2002–2016,
2014		 1 0 3 4
Melbārdis, OskarsOskars Melbārdis  Latvia (LAT) 4-man
2-man		 2014–2018 1 0 2 3
Utzschneider, PeterPeter Utzschneider  West Germany (FRG) 4-man
2-man		 1972–1976 1 0 2 3
Wicki, JeanJean Wicki  Switzerland (SUI) 4-man
2-man		 1968–1972 1 0 2 3
Embach, CarstenCarsten Embach  Germany (GER) 4-man 1994–2002 1 0 1 2
Hubacher, EdyEdy Hubacher  Switzerland (SUI) 4-man
2-man		 1972 1 0 1 2
Huber, GüntherGünther Huber  Italy (ITA) 2-man 1994–1998 1 0 1 2
Ķipurs, JānisJānis Ķipurs  Soviet Union (URS) 4-man
2-man		 1988 1 0 1 2
Kirchner, AndreasAndreas Kirchner  East Germany (GDR) 4-man 1980–1984 1 0 1 2
Koslov, VladimirVladimir Koslov  Soviet Union (URS) 4-man
2-man		 1988 1 0 1 2
Kripps, JustinJustin Kripps  Canada (CAN) 4-man
2-man		 2018–2022 1 0 1 2
Strenga, JānisJānis Strenga  Latvia (LAT) 4-man
2-man		 2014–2018 1 0 1 2
Wetzig, RolandRoland Wetzig  East Germany (GDR) 4-man 1980–1984 1 0 1 2

Women

Athlete NOC Event Olympics Gold Silver Bronze Total
Humphries, KaillieKaillie Humphries  Canada (CAN)
 United States (USA)		 2-woman 2010–2022 3 0 1 4
Moyse, HeatherHeather Moyse  Canada (CAN) 2-woman 2010–2014 2 0 0 2
Kiriasis, SandraSandra Kiriasis  Germany (GER) 2-woman 2002–2010 1 1 0 2
Jamanka, MariamaMariama Jamanka  Germany (GER) 2-woman 2018–2022 1 1 0 2

Elana Meyers Taylor has more Olympic bobsleigh medals than any other woman, but lacks a gold; her five medals comprise three silver and two bronze from 2010 through 2022.

Medal table

See also: List of Olympic medalists in bobsleigh

Sources (after the 2022 Winter Olympics):
Accurate as of 2022 Winter Olympics.

Rank Nation Gold Silver Bronze Total
1  Germany (GER) 16 9 7 32
2  Switzerland (SUI) 10 10 11 31
3  United States (USA) 8 11 9 28
4  East Germany (GDR) 5 5 3 13
5  Canada (CAN) 5 2 4 11
6  Italy (ITA) 4 4 4 12
7  West Germany (FRG) 1 3 2 6
8  Austria (AUT) 1 2 0 3
9  Great Britain (GBR) 1 1 3 5
10  Latvia (LAT) 1 0 2 3
 Soviet Union (URS) 1 0 2 3
12  Belgium (BEL) 0 1 1 2
 Russia (RUS) 0 1 1 2
14  South Korea (KOR) 0 1 0 1
15  France (FRA) 0 0 1 1
 Romania (ROU) 0 0 1 1
Totals (16 entries) 53 50 51 154

Number of bobsledders by nation

Nation 24 28 32 36 48 52 56 60 64 68 72 76 80 84 88 92 94 98 02 06 10 14 18 Years
 American Samoa (ASA) – – – – – – –   – – – – – – – – 2 – – – – – – 1
 Argentina (ARG) – 10 – – 4 4 –   5 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 4
 Armenia (ARM) – – – – – – –   – – – – – – – – 2 – 2 – – – – 2
 Australia (AUS) – – – – – – –   – – – – – – 5 2 4 4 – 4 7 6 4 9
 Austria (AUT) – 10 2 12 – 8 9   9 9 8 10 8 8 8 8 9 8 4 5 5 6 12 21
 Belgium (BEL) 5 10 4 8 5 4 2   6 – – – – – – – – – – – 2 2 4 12
 Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIH) – – – – – – –   – – – – – – – – 5 5 – – – – – 2
 Brazil (BRA) – – – – – – –   – – – – – – – – – – 4 4 – 6 4 5
 Bulgaria (BUL) – – – – – – –   – – – – – – 5 5 2 – 2 – – – – 4
 Canada (CAN) – – – – – – –   8 6 6 10 6 4 9 9 8 8 8 12 12 16 18 16
 China (CHN) – – – – – – –   – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 6 2
 Chinese Taipei (TPE) – – – – – – –   – – – – – 5 5 4 2 4 4 – – – – 6
 Croatia (CRO) – – – – – – –   – – – – – – – – – – 4 4 5 – 4 4
 Czech Republic (CZE) – – – – – – –   – – – – – – – – 4 5 6 5 8 4 8 8
 Czechoslovakia (TCH) – – – 8 4 – –   – – – 2 – – – 6 – – – – – – – 4
 France (FRA) 8 10 2 10 10 5 4   – 10 6 5 – 4 – 9 8 5 9 5 – 8 5 19
 East Germany (GDR) – – – – – – –   – – – 8 8 8 10 – – – – – – – – 4
 West Germany (FRG) – – – – – – –   – 8 8 8 10 10 8 – – – – – – – – 6
 United Team of Germany (EUA) – – – – – – 10   9 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 2
 Germany (GER) – 10 9 10 – 6 –   – – – – – – – 12 12 9 13 14 18 18 18 13
 Great Britain (GBR) 8 10 – 4 10 – 8   8 8 8 8 10 10 8 8 8 7 14 6 8 8 10 22
 Greece (GRE) – – – – – – –   – – – – – – – – 2 4 2 – – – – 3
 Hungary (HUN) – – – – – – –   – – – – – – – – 2 4 7 4 – – – 4
 Ireland (IRL) – – – – – – –   – – – – – – – 4 – 5 2 – 2 – – 4
 Italy (ITA) 10 5 4 10 10 8 10   8 10 9 9 5 9 9 8 9 8 9 12 8 4 4 23
 Jamaica (JAM) – – – – – – –   – – – – – – 4 5 4 6 2 – – 2 2 8
 Japan (JPN) – – – – – – –   – – 8 4 2 4 4 4 5 9 5 4 6 4 – 12
 Latvia (LAT) – – – – – – –   – – – – – – – 8 8 6 8 9 5 8 8 9
 Liechtenstein (LIE) – – – 2 – – 2   – – – – – – – – – – – – 2 – – 3
 Luxembourg (LUX) – 5 – 4 – – –   – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 2
 Mexico (MEX) – 5 – – – – –   – – – – – – 4 7 – – 2 – – – – 4
 Monaco (MON) – – – – – – –   – – – – – – 2 5 4 4 5 2 2 2 2 10
 Netherlands (NED) – 5 – 2 – – –   – – – – – 2 – – 2 – 8 8 4 6 – 9
 Netherlands Antilles (AHO) – – – – – – –   – – – – – – 2 2 – – – – – – – 2
 New Zealand (NZL) – – – – – – –   – – – – – – 5 – – 2 4 4 – – – 4
 Nigeria (NGR) – – – – – – –   – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 2 1
 Norway (NOR) – – – – 8 9 4   – – – – – – – 2 – 4 4 – – – – 6
 Olympic Athletes from Russia (OAR) – – – – – – –   – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 10 1
 Poland (POL) – 5 – – – – 6   – – – – – – – – – 4 4 4 4 4 4 8
 Portugal (POR) – – – – – – –   – – – – – – 5 – – – – – – – – 1
 Puerto Rico (PUR) – – – – – – –   – – – – – – – 4 5 5 – – – – – 3
 ROC (ROC_2020) – – – – – – –   – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 1
 Romania (ROU) – 10 4 9 – – 8   5 5 5 8 8 5 5 5 4 6 6 6 6 8 7 20
 Russia (RUS) – – – – – – –   – – – – – – – – 6 6 10 11 17 16 – 6
 San Marino (SMR) – – – – – – –   – – – – – – – – 2 – – – – – – 1
 Serbia (SRB) – – – – – – –   – – – – – – – – – – – – 4 2 – 2
 Serbia and Montenegro (SCG) – – – – – – –   – – – – – – – – – – 4 – – – – 1
 Slovakia (SVK) – – – – – – –   – – – – – – – – – – 4 4 4 4 – 5
 South Korea (KOR) – – – – – – –   – – – – – – – – – – – – 4 10 6 4
 Soviet Union (URS) – – – – – – –   – – – – – 8 10 – – – – – – – – 2
 Spain (ESP) – – – – – – 4   – 9 – – – – – – – – – – – – – 2
 Sweden (SWE) – – – – – 9 9   6 6 4 4 4 4 2 – 4 – 2 – – – – 11
 Switzerland (SUI) 8 10 4 9 8 8 8   8 9 8 8 8 11 10 8 10 10 10 12 8 9 10 23
 Trinidad and Tobago (TRI) – – – – – – –   – – – – – – – – 2 2 3 – – – – 4
 Ukraine (UKR) – – – – – – –   – – – – – – – – 4 2 5 – – – – 4
 Unified Team (EUN) – – – – – – –   – – – – – – – 9 – – – – – – – 1
 United States (USA) – 10 12 11 12 10 11   9 10 9 9 9 10 9 12 10 8 13 12 18 16 16 22
 Virgin Islands (ISV) – – – – – – –   – – – – – – 4 8 6 6 6 – – – – 5
 Yugoslavia (YUG) – – – – – – –   – – – – – 9 2 5 – – – – – – – 3
Nations 5 14 8 13 9 10 13 - 11 11 11 13 11 16 23 25 30 28 34 22 23 23 21 23 56
Bobsledders 39 115 41 99 71 71 93 - 81 90 79 93 78 111 135 159 155 156 195 150 159 169 164 165 1,961
Year 24 28 32 36 48 52 56 60 64 68 72 76 80 84 88 92 94 98 02 06 10 14 18 22

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Bobsleigh en los Juegos Olímpicos para niños

  • List of Olympic venues in bobsleigh
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