How does bobsleigh work?
B · Beginner · The race · 1 of 4A bobsleigh crew pushes its sled, jumps in and races down an iced track with steep banked curves. The pilot steers, seated, and times are taken to a hundredth of a second. The race is two or four heats, and the lowest total time wins. Only the push and gravity may move the sled.
How it works
- Crew: a pilot, plus a brakeman and, in the four-man, two side pushers.
- Propulsion: only the crew's push at the start and gravity.
- Steering: by the pilot, driving only from a sitting position.
- Timing: start time at 50 m, intermediate times and finish, to 1/100 second.
- Heats: four at the Olympics and World Championships; two at most other races.
- Result: the lowest total time over all heats.
- Ties: equal times share the rank.
- Same sled: all heats on the one sled unless it is damaged beyond repair.
The glossary has the bobsled, the push start, the pilot, the brakeman, the total time and the number of heats.
Tricky cases
Can a crew paddle with their hands to speed up?
No. Only the push at the start and gravity may propel the sled.
Two crews tie to the hundredth. Who wins?
They share the rank.
Can a crew change sleds between heats?
Only if the sled is damaged beyond immediate repair and the jury allows it.
How fast do bobsleighs go?
Top speeds are often over 140 km/h, though the rules set no speed.
Why the rule exists
Allowing only the push and gravity makes the start, the driving and the sled's set-up the three things that decide a race. Several heats reduce the effect of a single mistake.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Olympics, World Championships | Four heats | IBSF 10.6.1 |
| Other races | Two heats | IBSF 10.6.1 |
| Monobob | One athlete, standard sled | IBSF 2.2.2, 10.8.1 |
From the rule book
IBSF, International Rules Bobsleigh (September 2026), articles 2, 10.6, 10.8 and 12.1.2. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the IBSF International Rules, issued each season.