Who is Jakob Mandlbauer? Austrian pilot rushed to hospital after scary crash in Milano Cortina Winter Olympics four-man bobsleigh final

A frightening crash shocked fans during the Winter Olympics four-man bobsleigh final in Cortina on Saturday. Austrian pilot Jakob Mandlbauer was taken to hospital after his sled tipped over in the second heat of the race. The 27-year-old lost control as the sled veered dangerously off course. His teammates Daniel Bertschler, Sebastian Mitterer, and Daiyehan Nichols-Bardi were also inside the sled during the dramatic incident.

The sled eventually came to a stop near the finish line as officials rushed to the scene. Spectators inside the arena and viewers watching on television feared the worst. While three members of Team Austria were able to walk away after medical checks, Mandlbauer needed further treatment. He complained of neck pain and was stretchered off before being transported to the hospital for additional tests.

Jakob Mandlbauer stretchered away after sled tips over in Milano Cortina Winter Olympics four-man bobsleigh final

The accident happened during the second heat of the four-man competition at the Winter Olympics in Cortina. Jakob Mandlbauer was steering at high speed when the sled suddenly tipped onto its side. It then careered wildly around the icy track, causing concern among fans and officials. The Austrian team tried to protect themselves by ducking their heads inside the sled as it slid uncontrollably.

When the sled finally stopped, medical staff and race officials immediately ran toward the athletes. Daniel Bertschler, Sebastian Mitterer, and Daiyehan Nichols-Bardi appeared shaken but were able to leave the sled on their own. They received additional checks at the venue. Mandlbauer, however, stayed down and required more attention from medics.

BBC pundit and former Olympic bobsleigh star John Jackson spoke about the worrying scenes. He explained that everyone in the sliding community hopes to see athletes safe and healthy at the top of the track. He added that no one likes witnessing crashes, and when medical teams take longer than usual to remove someone, it signals that something may be wrong.

According to Austrian outlet Krone, doctors first checked whether Mandlbauer could move his arms, body, and head. He was conscious throughout the ordeal. After he complained about neck pain, officials decided to transport him to hospital as a precaution. Thankfully, he later received the all-clear.

The crash also caused visible damage to the track. Volunteers were seen repairing the ice surface before the event could resume. Once the track was cleared, racing continued. Germany dominated the heat, with the quartet of Johannes Lochner, Thorsten Margis, Jorn Wenzel, and Georg Fleischhauer leading the standings.





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