Cutting-Edge Tech Drives Innovation in Olympic Bobsledding

From AI-powered data analysis to custom-engineered gear, bobsled teams are using the latest innovations to gain an edge at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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Olympic bobsledding is a high-speed, high-tech sport, with teams leveraging the latest advancements in areas like data analytics, custom equipment, and safety features to gain a competitive edge. Ahead of the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games, bobsled powerhouses like Germany and the US are deploying cutting-edge tools, from AI-driven performance analysis to specialized footwear and protective gear, to optimize every aspect of their athletes' performance on the ice.

Why it matters

Bobsledding is one of the most technologically advanced sports in the Winter Olympics, with teams constantly pushing the boundaries of innovation to shave crucial fractions of a second off their race times. The rapid pace of technological change in the sport not only benefits elite athletes, but also has broader implications for safety, equipment design, and the future of winter sports.

The details

Key innovations include custom-engineered spiked shoes that improve push-off power, dynamic insoles that provide energy return, AI-powered data analysis to identify performance inefficiencies, and advanced carbon fiber sleds designed for durability and safety. Teams are also testing new protective gear like the Allianz Safety Sled, which aims to keep athletes inside the bobsled in the event of a crash.

  • The two-person bobsled made its Olympic debut in Chamonix, France, in 1924.
  • Women's two-person bobsledding entered the Games in 2002 in Salt Lake City.
  • Women's monobob arrived at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
  • At the 2022 Beijing Games, Germany won 27 medals, 16 of which came from bobsledding, luge, and skeleton.
  • The new Cortina Sliding Centre in Italy will provide the ideal testing ground for Germany's bobsled and luge teams ahead of the 2026 Milano Cortina Games.

The players

BMW

A strategic partner of the German federation that oversees bobsledding, luge, and skeleton, and credited with the introduction of custom studded shoes for bobbers.

VKTRY Gear

A company that has partnered with the US Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation for more than a decade, developing dynamic insoles to optimize bobbers' push-off performance.

Snowflake

A company that has partnered with the US Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation to leverage AI tools for data analysis, helping to identify optimal push pairings and performance inefficiencies.

Julian von Schleinitz

A former world luge champion and current head of BMW Group's tech and AI solutions division, who has developed the Data Coach system for analyzing sled performance data.

Allianz

An insurance company that has partnered with the German bobsled federation to develop the Allianz Safety Sled, a prototype aimed at improving athlete safety in the event of crashes and rollovers.

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What they’re saying

“These insoles help provide a higher level of stiffness and useful energy return to optimize effort during the bobsled push.”

— Kaillie Humphries, Canadian bobber competing for the US (Instagram)

“Keeping athletes inside the sled in case of an accident, the ability to brake the bobsled, and improving protective clothing and helmets are the key areas we're focused on with the Allianz Safety Sled.”

— Carsten Reinkemeyer, Head of safety research at the Allianz Center for Technology (Wired)

What’s next

The Allianz Safety Sled prototype will be used during the 2026 Milano Cortina Games to further analyze ice and runway conditions, allowing bobsled teams to better prepare for their descents.

The takeaway

The rapid pace of technological innovation in Olympic bobsledding is not only elevating the performance of elite athletes, but also driving advancements in safety and equipment design that could have broader implications for the future of winter sports. As teams continue to push the boundaries of what's possible, the 2026 Milano Cortina Games are poised to showcase the cutting edge of bobsled technology.