On Saturday, Austrian bobsledder Jacob Mandlbauer was hospitalized after his four-person bobsled flipped over during a run. Reports indicate he struck his head against a wall and was dragged across the track, though thankfully, his injuries weren’t severe.
Medical workers assessed him at the site of the crash before transferring him to a hospital in Cortina. An Austrian teammate mentioned that Mandlbauer was “alert, conscious, moving his hands and feet,” which is reassuring.
It appears he is being treated for “possible cervical problems,” but details on his diagnosis remain unclear at this time. Christoph Iglehauser, the Austrian team spokesman, noted that Mandlbauer was taken to the hospital as a precaution after he expressed discomfort in his neck and back during practice.
Iglehauser stated, “Jacob is on his way to the hospital. He’s not that bad. Just a check. The others are fine. No injuries. Just a check. He’s fine.” Interestingly, Mandlbauer’s three teammates managed to get off the ice by themselves, which is a relief.
2026 Winter Olympics
British bobsledder Greg Hackett shared his sympathy for Mandlbauer, highlighting that this sport does come with significant risks. It’s not something many fans might think about, but bobsleds can reach speeds of up to 90 miles per hour, which is rather intense.
Reflecting on the incident, Hackett remarked, “This is a serious situation. We’re here to compete—that’s one thing. But we’re all friends across nationalities, so seeing someone in distress is hard. No one wants their Olympic experience to conclude in such a way.” Meanwhile, teammate Daniel Berschler noted they crashed during a training turn. “Our entry wasn’t perfect,” he explained, adding he was thankful for the prompt response from doctors on-site. It’s moments like these that remind athletes how quickly things can change on the ice.
