Bobsled

Learn More About The Sport

Seconds count in bobsled competition, so that means whether it's a two-man or four-man sled, every athlete has a job to do.

"These guys have trained for years. They have start facilities. They practice their push, jumping in simultaneously, driver, No. 2 man, No. 3 man and the brakeman," said bobsledder David Allen.

A strong, fast push is critical in this race. Athletes then have seconds to jump in and tuck themselves into the sled.

Bobsleds are fiberglass. The driver steers using pullies to get around curves.

In Salt Lake City, bobsleds will be racing down the tracks at more than 90 mph. To make sleds go fast the steel runners are sanded down, and weight can be added to even up the teams.

"It's speed. The fastest sled wins and the driver and the team are gonna push themselves to the limit of that curve," Allen said. "There's no engine. It's gravity and you're going 80 mph."

For the first time in Olympic competition, women will be able to compete in the bobsled races.

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