Bobsleigh at the Winter Olympics facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bobsleigh at the Winter Olympics |
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| Governing body | IBSF |
| Events | 4 (men: 2; women: 2) |
| Games | |
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Bobsleigh is an exciting Winter Olympic Games sport. Teams of two or four people race a special sled down a twisty ice track. The goal is to finish the course in the fastest time possible.
Bobsleigh has been part of the Winter Olympics since the very first games in 1924. These first games were held in Chamonix, France. The only time bobsleigh wasn't included was in 1960. That year, the organizers decided not to build a track to save money.
The four-man bobsleigh race has been in almost every Winter Olympics. In 1928, it was a five-man race. The two-man event started at the 1932 Lake Placid games. A two-woman event was added much later, at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics.
Contents
What Are the Bobsleigh Events?
At the Winter Olympics, bobsleigh has a few different events:
- Four-man bobsleigh: This is the classic event, with a pilot, two pushers, and a brakeman. It has been part of the Olympics since 1924.
- Two-man bobsleigh: This event features a pilot and a brakeman. It was added to the Olympics in 1932.
- Two-woman bobsleigh: This event, also with a pilot and a brakeman, made its debut in 2002.
- Women's monobob: This is a newer event where one woman pilots and pushes her own sled. It was first introduced at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
Top Bobsleigh Athletes and Medals
Some bobsleigh athletes have won many medals at the Olympics. These are the ones who have earned multiple medals, including at least one gold.
Men's Bobsleigh Medal Leaders
- Kevin Kuske and André Lange from Germany are two of the most successful male bobsledders. They both have won four gold medals and a total of five or six medals each!
- Francesco Friedrich and Thorsten Margis, also from Germany, have each won four gold medals.
- Wolfgang Hoppe from East Germany and Germany won six medals in total, including two golds.
- Eugenio Monti from Italy also won six medals, with two golds.
- Bogdan Musiol from East Germany and Germany is known for winning seven Olympic medals, which is a lot! He earned one gold, five silver, and one bronze medal.
Women's Bobsleigh Medal Leaders
- Kaillie Humphries has been very successful in women's bobsleigh. She has won three gold medals and one bronze medal, competing for both Canada and the USA.
- Heather Moyse from Canada won two gold medals.
- Sandra Kiriasis and Mariama Jamanka from Germany each have one gold and one silver medal.
While not having a gold medal, Elana Meyers Taylor from the USA has won more bobsleigh medals than any other woman. She has five medals in total: three silver and two bronze.
Countries with the Most Bobsleigh Medals
The medal table shows which countries have won the most medals in bobsleigh at the Winter Olympics. Germany has won the most gold medals overall.
| 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 | |
See also
In Spanish: Bobsleigh en los Juegos Olímpicos para niños
- List of Olympic venues in bobsleigh
