Winter Olympics star hospitalised after bobsleigh flips over on track – with team disqualified from event

Austrian Bobsleigh pilot Jakob Mandlbauer left the track on a stretcher after suffering a horrific crash in Saturday’s four-man final.

The 27-year-old and his team were taking part in the second heat of the four races when the sled veered to the right.

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Mandlbauer, as well as Daniel Bertschler, Sebastian Mitterer and Daiyehan Nichols-Bardi, all attempted to duck their heads as the sled tipped over on Curve 7.

The sled ended up sliding for a considerable distance – almost to the finish line – sparking immediate medical attention.

While Bertschler, Mitterer and Nichols-Bardi were able to walk away from the incident, Mandlbauer was quickly attended to by medics.

He was eventually rushed to hospital.

The crash resulted in the event being delayed by 20 minutes.

In an update on Mandlbauer’s health, it was revealed that thankfully he has suffered no major injuries.

Austria’s team press attaché Christoph Iglhauser told The Athletic: “Jakob is on his way to hospital.

“He’s not so bad. It’s just a check. Everyone else is fine.”

“No injury, only a check. He’ll be fine.”

As a result of the crash, Team Austria have been disqualified from the bobsleigh event.

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Competition rules state that all four athletes must cross the finish line in a race – even if it tips over – with their Heat 2 being registered as a ‘Did Not Finish’.

Following their first run, they were in 21st place out of 27 teams.

Explaining how the crash occurred, TNT Sports commentary team said: “I think it’s the driver.

“I think he’s so far forward that they can’t lift the sled from the wall.

“The others are all sort of buried in the sled.

“The driver who has his head out most and in a crash, he tries to get out as quickly as he can but you are doing 70, 80, 90 miles an hour and being bounced around.”

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After the event got back underway, the French team – piloted by Romain Heinrich – were then involved in a crash as they lost control during their run.

The sled appeared to tip over after passing through the third interval, before skidding on its side for the final few seconds of the circuit, with each member able to walk away unharmed.

And Trinidad & Tobago, the final runners of the season, also flipped onto their side, but none of their team members were hurt.

Before Saturday’s session, there had not been a crash at the Milano Cortina Games in sliding sport competition.