Athletes begin from the starting block. They push the sled 50 meters to the starting line and the electronic eye that triggers the clock. The start usually lasts 6 seconds, and the bobsled reaches about 22 mph. The bobsled travels at speeds of 80 mph to 90 mph in other portions of the race. An audio and visual signal lets the athletes know when to begin, and they have 60 seconds at that point to start the race.
Runs
The men's bobsled events consist of four runs. The runs are timed to a hundredth of a second, and the team with the fastest total time wins. Teams with the same time are considered tied.
The women's bobsled events consist of two runs timed to a hundredth of a second. The team with the fastest total time wins. Ties are permitted.
Competitors prefer to be among the first to start because sleds cause the ice surface to roughen, increasing the friction and making runs more difficult.
Men have four starting groups. In the first and third heats, groups are determined by the team's World Cup standings. The first group consists of the top 10 countries from the World Cup ranking, the second group consists of the next 10, and so on. In the second and fourth heat, the order is based on the previous run's results, with the top 15 individuals starting first.
Women have three starting groups. In the first heat, groups are determined by the team's World Cup standings. In the second run, the starting order is based on the first heat's results.
All competitors must pass the finish line in the sled. If the team meets this requirement, the run counts even if the sled finishes upside down or on its side.
Equipment Check
In the 30 minutes preceding the start of the event, the competition Jury indicates which bobsleds it will check. The Jury also has the right to check sleds that it does not indicate.
The Jury may check the temperature of the sled's runners and compare it against a reference runner. The reference runner is exposed to the open air in the starting area 1 hour before the start of the competition. Competitors' runners must not differ by more than 4 degrees Celsius from the reference, meaning they cannot try to gain an unfair advantage by heating their equipment.
The bobsleds and crew may be weighed immediately at the end of the competition run. The total weight must fall within the requirements.
