Marine's British bobsleigh team abandon World Cup race after Swiss brakeman seriously injured
Britain's top bobsleigh team, which includes Royal Marine Taylor Lawrence, have abandoned this weekend's World Cup race in Altenberg, Germany, following a freak accident involving Swiss brakeman Sandro Michel.
Michel, a brakeman in Switzerland's four-man bobsleigh team piloted by Michael Vogt, was seriously injured after he was thrown from a four-man sled after crashing in Altenberg before being run over by the sled which Swiss Sliding said "was uncontrollably sliding back from the finish area".
They added that Michel was airlifted to hospital where he is currently stable after undergoing surgery.
A call for change
In a joint statement on Instagram, the British team, led by Brad Hall, said the accident was "avoidable" and called for a change to the Altenberg track's safety protocols.
The statement reads: "As we all know there was a terrible accident this week in training resulting in one of our best athletes getting badly injured. This was an avoidable accident based on sub-par safety protocols at the Altenberg track.
"This needs to change. There are tracks like Whistler and Sigulda that have exceptional staffing to make sure sleds are caught and athlete safety is adhered to insofar as it is possible to do so.
"Why is this not the case at every track?"
A show of solidarity
As the statement continues, the team said they feel uncomfortable competing and potentially benefiting from the Swiss team's absence at this weekend's World Cup.
"As far as we're concerned, Team Vogt and other Swiss Sliding members cannot race this weekend due to factors outside of their control," their statement reads.
"As such, we are uncomfortable competing in and potentially benefiting from their absence this weekend.
"Most importantly, our withdrawal seeks to show solidarity with our Swiss Sliding family whilst they process this difficult moment."
Rounding off their statement, the team expressed hope that their absence would show how strong their feelings are for the sport to continue down a positive path for the future.
"Hopefully our absence will show how strong our feelings are for positive change going forward," they said.
"We love our sport and wish to see it continue positively for many years to come.
"There is no pressure for any other nation to join us. We hope to see many of you at the athlete meeting this Friday.
To Michi, Sandro and all the team and their families, we're with you."
The British Bobsleigh & Skeleton Association (BBSA) said it fully supported Team Hall's decision to withdraw from the event.
"We appreciate that this decision has not been taken lightly and we stand with them in their desire to see positive change in our sport," it said.
"The safety of our athletes – and indeed all athletes – remains paramount and we will engage with the International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation (IBSF) to ensure that their concerns are listened to."
An athletes' meeting is expected to be held on Friday where athletes can voice their concerns and draft any health and safety ideas that they can put forward to the IBSF.
In a statement provided to Forces Sport, Chief of the BMW IBSF World Cup in Altenberg Jens Morgenstern said he "firmly rejects" accusations of inadequate safety precautions at Altenberg track.
He said: “The safety of athletes in the sport of bobsleigh is a fundamental issue at all tracks around the world, not only in Altenberg.
"Unfortunately, crashes are part of this sport, and all athletes are aware of that. The fact that the Swiss bobsleigh team's training crash resulted in such serious injuries is a tragedy that leaves us deeply shocked and saddened.
"But I must emphasize, as World Cup organisers and track operators, we have always done everything in our power to ensure the safety of the athletes - and will continue to do so in the future.
"We firmly reject the accusation that there were inadequate safety precautions. All safety measures taken and adhered to in Altenberg comply with the regulations of the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation.”
Marine Lawrence is expected to compete with Team Hall at the 2024 World Championships in Winterberg, which runs from 24 February - 3 March.
Related topics
Join Our Newsletter
