IBSF – International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation

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Source: https://www.ibsf.org/en/ and https://www.instagram.com/ibsfsliding/

The first bobsleigh club was founded in St. Moritz (Switzerland) in 1897. This marked the beginning of the spread of bobsleigh in the winter sports regions of Europe. As early as 1914, bobsleigh races were held on a wide variety of natural ice tracks.

The first racing sleds were made of wood. However, they were soon replaced by steel sleds, which were called “bobsleds” due to the back and forth movement of the teams to increase speed on the straights (bobbing).

In 1923, the International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation (IBSF), originally the Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing (FIBT), was founded. The following year, a four-man bobsleigh race was held at the very first Winter Olympics in Chamonix (France). At the 1932 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid (USA), a two-man bobsleigh competition was added, and this format still exists today.

In the beginning, bobsleigh was mainly a sport for the wealthy and adventurous, who gathered in the winter sports centers of the Alps for competitions and parties. There was no training back then. Competitors simply bought or rented a bobsleigh, started as an observer and then took the wheel after a few runs.

The development of the type of bobsleigh sport we know today began in the early 1950s. The crucial importance of the starting process was recognized and strong, fast athletes from other sports were recruited for bobsleigh. Athletes, handball players, gymnasts and other competitive athletes who could give a powerful push at the start were in great demand.

Results: https://www.ibsf.org/en/races-results