Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy – Austrian bobsled pilot Jakob Mandlbauer was transported to the Ca’ Foncello Hospital in Treviso following a serious crash during the four-man bobsled competition at the 2026 Winter Olympics on Saturday, February 21st. The hospital previously treated skiing superstar Lindsey Vonn after a severe injury sustained during an Olympic downhill race.
The incident occurred in the second run, specifically in curve nine at the Cortina Sliding Centre. According to reports, Mandlbauer’s sled overturned at approximately 115 km/h, sliding down the ice track on its side. While his three push athletes were able to exit the track independently, Mandlbauer required assistance and was carefully removed on a stretcher. Initial assessments indicated he was experiencing neck pain.
“The transfer is solely for further medical monitoring to rule out any risk,” explained Bernhard Unterkofler, Chief Medical Officer of the Austrian Olympic Committee, in a statement. Medical staff will be monitoring a potential disc issue, and Unterkofler had already attended to Mandlbauer at the scene and during initial examinations at the Codivilla Hospital in Cortina.
The race was temporarily halted for over 20 minutes while the sled was removed from the track. This crash adds to the drama of the Olympic bobsled competition, where precision and speed are paramount.
Here are the current standings after the event:
- Johannes Lochner: 1:48.610m
- Francesco Friedrich: +0.430s
- Adam Ammour: +0.590s
- Michael Vogt: +0.710s
- Patrick Baumgartner: +0….
Further updates on Mandlbauer’s condition will be provided as they become available.
