Bobsleigh, or bobsledding, is a winter sport in which teams of two to four athletes make timed runs down narrow, twisting, banked, iced tracks in a gravity-powered sleigh.

The term "bobsleigh" originated in the late 1800s as a variation of the earlier term "bobsled," which was first recorded in the 1830s in the United States. The name was derived from the action some early competitors adopted of bobbing back and forth inside their sleds (sleighs) to increase speed. Bobsledding, or bobsleighing, became an organized sport in the 1880s in places like New York and Switzerland. Over time, "bobsleigh" became more commonly used, particularly in international contexts and official competitions. In everyday language, "bobsledding" is more widely used in the United States, while "bobsleigh" or "bobsleighing" is more commonly used in Europe.

The roots of bobsleigh go back to the late 19th century in St. Moritz, Switzerland. Wealthy tourists from Victorian Britain staying at the Palace Hotel owned by Caspar Badrutt sought thrilling winter activities. They began racing hand-built sleds down the narrow streets of St. Moritz. These early sleds were adapted from the sleds and toboggans used by delivery boys, eventually evolving into the bobsleighs we know today.

Originally a pastime, it quickly gained popularity as a sport, leading to the construction of the Cresta Run in 1884, the world's oldest bobsleigh track.

The competitive aspect of bobsleigh began to take shape in the early 20th century. The first organized competition was held in 1898 on the Cresta Run at St. Moritz. Bobsleigh became an internationally recognized sport in 1923 with the formation of the Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing (FIBT), now known as the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF). The sport made its Olympic debut at the first Winter Games in Chamonix, France, in 1924.

In the modern era, bobsleigh has evolved significantly. Today's sleighs are high-tech marvels, combining light metals, steel runners, and aerodynamic composite bodies. Competition sleighs must adhere to strict specifications, with four-man sleighs measuring up to 3.80 meters (12.5 feet) long and two-man sleighs up to 2.70 meters (8.9 feet) long. The sport now includes various events, such as the two-man, four-man, and the recently introduced women's monobob, which debuted at the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Bobsleigh tracks are engineered feats in themselves. Modern tracks are typically between 1,200 and 1,600 meters (1,312 and 1,750 yards) long, featuring 15 to 20 turns, including hairpin bends and steeply banked curves. These tracks are made of concrete or stone, covered with several inches of ice, and have sidewalls of reinforced ice to keep the sleds on course.

Bobsleigh is an extreme sport due to several features. Firstly, the speeds involved are breathtaking, with sleds reaching 90 mph (145 km/h) on the track. The combination of high speeds and sharp turns creates a thrilling and dangerous experience for athletes. Secondly, the physical demands on the crew are immense. Athletes must possess explosive strength and agility to push the sled at the start and maintain control throughout the descent. The open cockpit design of the sleds means that in the event of a crash, the only protection athletes have is their helmets.

Nevertheless, some people are surprised to find bobsledding characterized as an extreme sport. While the sport undoubtedly involves high speeds, it might not be perceived as risky as other extreme sports like BASE jumping or skydiving. The presence of a controlled track and safety measures might make it seem less dangerous to some.

Another reason why some people don't consider bobsleigh an extreme sport is its familiarity. Many of us had toboggans and sleds as children, for one thing. More significantly, bobsleigh is a well-established Olympic sport with a long history, while extreme sports are often characterized by their non-traditional, rebellious nature and are typically newer or less mainstream. Bobsleigh's inclusion in the Winter Olympics since 1924 might make it seem more conventional.

Bobsleigh is also a team sport, which might make it seem less extreme when compared to solo pursuits where an athlete is solely responsible for their safety and performance.

A related sport, known as Skeleton, is a winter sliding sport in which a person rides in a small sled, known as a skeleton bobsled (bobsleigh) down a frozen track while lying face down and head first. Unlike bobsleigh, skeleton always involves single riders. Otherwise, in most cases, it is similar to bobsleigh and may be considered a form of bobsleigh. Skeleton appeared in the 1928 and 1948 Winter Olympics and was added permanently to the Olympic program in 2002.

Topics related to both bobsleigh (bobsledding) and skeleton are appropriate for this category of our web guide.

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