SPORTS: women in driver’s seat in bobsled,

Kaillie Humphries, Canada’s two-time Olympic gold medallist in women’s bobsled, has wanted to pilot a four-man bobsled with male brakemen in competition.

She will now get her wish after FIBT, the world governing body of the sport, announced Thursday that fourman bobsled will be open for mixed and all-female teams.

“It’s something that will challenge me physically and mentally to step up my game,” Humphries said in a telephone interview Thursday. “I don’t want to ever become complacent, and I know this is a challenge that will not allow that to happen.”

Women’s bobsled was introduced as an Olympic sport in 2002, but limited to a twoman event.

“Wanting to leave a legacy, for me that is very important,” Humphries said. “Opening the door for women to be able to compete in the four-man event. Eventually hopefully women will have their own event in four-man, but for now this bridges the gap.”

The rule change will likely only impact pilot choices. It’s believed most teams would still use three male push athletes with a female driver.

“I’m excited for a new challenge as an athlete and a bobsled pilot,” Elena Meyers Taylor, a two-time women’s bobsled Olympic medallist for the U.S., said. “This goes a long way to ensure more gender equality in our sport, which is very refreshing. I realize it will take a lot of work to compete at the highest level, but I’m ready to go for it.”

American bobsledder Steven Holcomb has likened driving a two-man sled to a sports car, and a four-man to a school bus. Humphries said she is aware of the differences in the sleds.

“The feeling will be completely different,” she said. “The sled is longer. The weight is a lot greater. Now we’ve got three guys pushing at the beginning, not just for the added weight, but also the starts are faster, the velocity is greater, the G-force, the impact on your body is greater.”

Humphries plans to pilot a four-man sled at the Canadian selection races at the end of October, just prior to the start of the World Cup season.

FIBT president Ivo Ferriani said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press that mixed teams could first take part in World Cup races at a Dec. 15-21 meet in Calgary.

“I strongly believe women can drive a four-man and be competitive,” Ferriani said. “For us, it’s the natural evolution of our sport.”

Darrin Steele, president of the U.S. bobsled and skeleton federation, said he has concerns that some may underestimate the difficulty of driving a four-man sled, though has no doubt some women can be competitive.

“I think there’s some fear that it changes the four-man. I don’t think that’s realistic,” Steele said. “My point of view: If a woman is good enough to jump in a four-man and compete with the guys, more power to her. I think those that have the ability are going to be few in number, but if they’ve got the ability and want to do it, then why get in the way?”