{"id":779386,"date":"2026-02-21T12:53:15","date_gmt":"2026-02-21T12:53:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/779386\/"},"modified":"2026-02-21T12:53:15","modified_gmt":"2026-02-21T12:53:15","slug":"bobsleigh-driver-carried-off-on-stretcher-after-terrifying-crash-at-winter-olympics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/779386\/","title":{"rendered":"Bobsleigh driver carried off on stretcher after terrifying crash at Winter Olympics\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>A scary incident occurred in the Bobsleigh at the Winter Olympics with a member of the Austrian team stretchered off the track after a big crash<\/p>\n<p>11:37, 21 Feb 2026Updated 12:18, 21 Feb 2026<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A member of the Austrian Bobsleigh team was stretchered off the track after a big crash in the four-man final at the Winter Olympics\" loading=\"eager\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0_Winter-Olympics.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p aria-label=\"A member of the Austrian Bobsleigh team was stretchered off the track after a big crash in the four-man final at the Winter Olympics \" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">A member of the Austrian Bobsleigh team was stretchered off the track after a big crash in the four-man final at the Winter Olympics (Image: (Photo by Richard Heathcote\/Getty Images))<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Jakob Mandlbauer, the driver of Austria&#8217;s bobsleigh team at the Winter Olympics, has been taken away on a stretcher after a terrifying crash in the four-man final.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Following the incident, there were audible gasps from those in attendance as medics quickly rushed to the scene. The crash occurred in heat two of the final, when the Austrian team attempted to take a left turn before the sleigh flew off the side.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Mandlbauer&#8217;s three teammates were all able to escape out and head off the track but he remained and received treatment, which caused a significant delay, before being taken away on a stretcher.<\/p>\n<p>READ MORE: <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" data-tmdatatrack=\"read-more\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36758172\" data-tmdatatrack-source=\"editorial\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/sport\/winter-olympics-poland-skater-injury-36758172\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Winter Olympics star suffers horror face injury in shocking speed skating accident<\/a>READ MORE: <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" data-tmdatatrack=\"read-more\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36758242\" data-tmdatatrack-source=\"editorial\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/sport\/other-sports\/donald-trump-winter-olympics-usa-36758242\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Donald Trump Winter Olympics visit set after USA hockey win and local police warning<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The exact condition of the 27-year-old is unknown, with <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/bbc\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">BBC<\/a> presenters confirming they will give an update once it is known.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Before the action got back underway, officials were able to repair the part of the track seemingly damaged by the crash.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">This is not the first time the Austrian team have crashed out, with a similar incident taking place right near the beginning of the games in unofficial training.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Another crash followed around an hour later, as the French crew lost control during their run. However, all members of the team were quick to emerge after hurtling down the track on the sled&#8217;s side, seemingly unharmed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">JOIN US ON FACEBOOK!<\/strong><a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MirrorSport#\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"> <\/strong><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">All the best sports news and much more on our dedicated Facebook page<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/team-gb\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">Team GB<\/a>, meanwhile, got off to a flying start in their heat as they finished third behind a Germany one-two. Elsewhere in the standings, Switzerland 2 (54.49), Germany 3 (54.51), Switzerland 1 (54.53), and Italy 1 (54.55) all finished below them before the next heat started.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">There have been numerous big crashes at Milano-Cortina over the last few weeks with the most notable one undoubtedly being Lindsey Vonn&#8217;s in the women&#8217;s downhill skiing final.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The American was airlifted off the course with a broken leg and has since confirmed she has been forced to have multiple surgeries.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Lindsey Vonn is taken away via helicopter\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0_Lindsey-Vonn.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p aria-label=\"Lindsey Vonn was taken away by helicopter after her crash at the Winter Olympics\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Lindsey Vonn was taken away by helicopter after her crash at the Winter Olympics(Image: AP)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">In her latest <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/instagram\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">Instagram<\/a> update, she said: &#8220;Made it through surgery. It took a bit more than 6 hours to complete. As you can see, it required a lot of plates and screws to put back together.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;With the extent of the trauma, I&#8217;ve been struggling a bit post op and have not yet been able to be discharged from the hospital just yet,&#8221; Vonn added. &#8220;Almost there. Baby steps.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">On Friday, gold medal favourite in the men&#8217;s freeski halfpipe Finley Melville Ives looked to suffer a bad injury after coming down hard following an impressive trick<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Ensure our latest sport headlines always appear at the top of your <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/google\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">Google<\/a> Search by making us a Preferred Source. **<a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=mirror.co.uk\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Click here to activate<\/strong><\/a> <strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">However, it was confirmed that he was conscious and talking as he was stretchered away from the course. Fellow New Zealander Ben Harrington paid tribute to him in his run moments after as he went on to qualify for the final.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">GB&#8217;s Gus Kenworthy was also part of the 12 athletes in that final but he ended up finishing sixth with American Alex Ferreira taking gold.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A scary incident occurred in the Bobsleigh at the Winter Olympics with a member of the Austrian team&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":779387,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[10],"tags":[227326,79,16,15,220599],"class_list":["post-779386","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sports","tag-bobsled","tag-sports","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-winter-olympic-games"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/116108722741514730","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/779386","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=779386"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/779386\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/779387"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=779386"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=779386"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=779386"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}