What are the bobsleigh events?
B · Beginner · The race · 2 of 4There are four bobsleigh disciplines: men's 2-man and 4-man, and women's 2-woman and monobob. The monobob is a single woman on a standard sled built by one maker, so every athlete has the same machine. There is also a bobsleigh and skeleton mixed team event. Youth monobob and para bobsleigh have their own rules.
How it works
- Men: 2-man and 4-man bobsleigh.
- Women: 2-woman bobsleigh and women's monobob.
- Team: a bobsleigh and skeleton mixed team competition.
- Monobob sled: only the IBSF standard monobob from the appointed maker.
- Monobob parts: original spare parts only; set repairs and seat adjustments allowed.
- Crew changes: a brakeman can be swapped at any time; a pilot only during training.
- One team each: an athlete entered for one team cannot join another.
- Other forms: youth monobob, para bobsleigh and summer push, under separate rules.
The glossary has the two-man / four-man, the monobob, the pilot, the brakeman, the bobsled and the quota.
Tricky cases
Can a women's monobob athlete build her own sled?
No. Only the standard IBSF monobob is allowed.
A brakeman is injured between heats. Can they be replaced?
Yes. With the jury's permission any crew member except the pilot may be replaced.
Can a pilot be swapped once the race starts?
No. Pilots may be replaced only during training, and only if the new pilot can still complete the required training heats.
Can women race 4-man bobsleigh?
The women's disciplines in these rules are the 2-woman and the monobob.
Why the rule exists
A standard monobob removes sled-building budgets from the women's single event, so it tests the athlete. Fixed crews keep teams from swapping in fresh pushers mid-race.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Women's monobob | Standard sled only | IBSF 10.8.1 |
| Crew replacement | Any crew member but the pilot | IBSF 10.6.5 |
| Pilot replacement | In training only | IBSF 10.5 |
From the rule book
IBSF, International Rules Bobsleigh (September 2026), articles 2, 8.6, 10.5, 10.6.5 and 10.8.1. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the IBSF International Rules, issued each season.