Bobsleigh is a downhill ride on a controlled sled called bobs. The track for this winter Olympic sport is an inclined chute with artificial ice.
Bobsleigh originated in Switzerland in 1888 thanks to the fantasy of Wilson Smith, who connected two sledges. So he traveled from St. Moritz to Celerina. This unusual means of transportation aroused interest, and at the end of the 19th century, official rules were established for competitions in a new sport - bobsleigh. The first professional sleigh crew consisted of five people. The team consisted of three men and two women. Further competitions began to take place in a number of European countries, until bobsleigh became so popular that championships began to be held on it.
Bobsleigh was included in the program of the Winter Olympics in 1924. For the first time, a competition in this sport was held in Chamonix using four-man bobs. Later, two-seater sleds appeared. They consist of a main body, seats, a frame, and a front and rear axle. To control the bob, rings are tied to the steering gear.
Male athletes participate in races on two- and four-seater bobs, and women only on two-seater sleds.
Bobsleigh requires special equipment. It includes helmets made of high-tech plastics and synthetic boots with spiked soles.
The bobsleigh competition lasts two days, in each of which the athletes pass the track twice. The team that covered the distance in less time on the sum of all four heats becomes the winner.
During the descent, the sleds reach speeds of up to 150 km / h. Beans are constantly being improved on the technical side. When designing them, the latest developments in scientific and technological progress are taken into account.
The length of the bobsleigh course varies, as does the height difference at the start and finish. There is also no specific requirement for the number of turns or bends.
In 1923, the International Federation of Bobsleigh and Toboggan was organized, uniting more than 50 national federations.
