“It has always worked smoothly so far”: Bob’s bosses do not want to hear any more mistakes after the autumn drama

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The drama surrounding the Swiss pusher Sandro Michel (27) revolves around one question: How is it possible that the four-man bobsled, weighing more than half a ton, slides back onto the track from the uphill finish and the pusher is unconscious? fell over on the track and seriously injured? Given the characteristics of the track in Altenberg, such a disaster had to be feared for a long time, as is also said among the athletes.

Now the bobsleigh track boss from Altenberg is fighting back. Jens Morgenstern said during a press conference on Thursday: “I categorically reject the fact that Altenberg is being portrayed as a bogeyman. We made no mistakes and acted in accordance with all rules and regulations. Athlete safety is not an Altenberg problem, but a global problem.”

Sobering vindication appearance

Morgenstern receives support from world association representative Jos Mattli. “Sliding back a fallen sled is an explicit part of the safety concept. So far it has always gone smoothly.”

On tracks like Whistler or Sigulda there are marshals with catch hooks to prevent the bobsled from sliding back. But in Altenberg it is considerably steeper. “And there were also falls in Sigulda and Whistler where the bobsled was not stopped by the hooks. “But there was no one on the train,” says Mattli.

The bobsled bosses reject all accusations. Self-criticism? Solutions? No. People prefer to talk about the fact that bobsleighs are becoming faster due to technical developments – but the regulation of this is also a matter for the IBSF. The act of justification is a disillusionment for many representatives of the scene.

Now suddenly there are marshals on the finishing track

Interestingly enough, during training on Thursday there were suddenly several marshals with safety hooks at the finish. And the organizers also refrain from spraying the straights on the track every day; the sleds are now about two seconds slower than in the disastrous first training session.

The remaining Swiss teams are all training, while Michel remains in hospital in Dresden – his condition is stable.

Source : Blick