Pilot Jakob Mandlbauer, Daniel Bertschler, Sebastian Mitterer and Daiyehan Nichols-Bardi were inside the Austrian sled when it tipped. Richard Heathcote / Getty Images
Feb. 21, 2026Updated 7:16 am EST
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — A crash during the second run of the 4-man bobsled competition delayed sliding for an extended period of time Saturday as an Austrian sled tipped over on its side on Curve 7.
The sled slid for a long stretch — almost to the finish line — and one of the team members was down on the track being attended to by medical personnel. The other three team members were seen standing and walking away.
A stretcher was brought to the scene, and the competition was delayed for approximately 20 minutes.
In the sled, one of two belonging to Team Austria, were pilot Jakob Mandlbauer, Daniel Bertschler, Sebastian Mitterer and Daiyehan Nichols-Bardi. Bertschler, Mitterer and Nichols-Bardi were all seen standing and leaving the scene on their own power.
“Jakob is on his way to hospital,” Christoph Iglhauser, Austrian team press attaché, told The Athletic. “He’s not so bad. It’s just a check. Everyone else is fine.”
“No injury, only a check. He’ll be fine.”
According to bobsled rules, all four athletes must cross the finish line with their sled, even if it tips or crashes for a run to count. Because that didn’t happen, the Austrians registered a “Did Not Finish” and were disqualified from the competition. They were in 21st place after the first run.
This is a breaking news story. More to come.
Feb 21, 2026
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