United States bobsled driver Kris Horn went for a frightening solo ride down a track in St. Moritz, Switzerland, during a World Cup event on Sunday, Jan. 11.
Horn was the only passenger in the bobsled after his three American teammates, who make up the four-man sled team, did not make it into the bobsled after the initial push at the top of the track.
Horn is the team’s driver and is expected to be the first one in the bobsled. Not having his teammates on board led to trouble navigating the course.
The sled moved swiftly down the course with Horn at the front of the sled in his usual seat before managing to position himself at the back, where he could pull on the brake in a reasonable time and prevent serious injuries, reaching a speed of 75 mph during the run that lasted just over a minute, according to the Associated Press.
Horn started his bobsledding career as a brakeman and that knowledge helped prepare him for Sunday’s scary situation.
‘We are fortunate it wasn’t worse,’ USA Bobsled head coach Chris Fogt said in a text message to the AP.
Pushers Ryan Rager, Hunter Powell and Caleb Furnell had trouble getting in the bobsled, which left Horn in a position to try and maneuver the sled down the twisty course with no additional weight or anyone to pull the brakes.
Rager was seen in a video stumbling as he tried to get into the sled, which affected the ability of Powell and Furnell to also jump in. The trio hit the ice before sliding briefly behind the sled. The team confirmed that the three pushers all avoided serious injuries, and the X-rays for each of them came back negative.
There is one World Cup race weekend left before USA Bobsled and Skeleton picks its team for the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. Horn is a strong contender to make the team as one of the men’s bobsled drivers.
