The qualification system for bobsleigh at the 2014 Winter Olympics determined the number of athletes and sleds each nation could enter in the men's and women's events. Qualification was based primarily on International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (FIBT) world rankings and results from the 2012–13 and 2013–14 seasons, with additional quota places reserved to ensure host nation and continental representation.
Qualification Rules A maximum of 170 quota spots are available to athletes to compete at the games. A maximum 130 men and 40 women may qualify. The qualification is based on the world rankings of January 20, 2014. Pilots must compete in five different races on three different tracks during the 2012/13 season or 2013/14 season. Men pilots must be in the top 50 of the world rankings, while women need to be in the top 40. Each continent (Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania) and the hosts are allowed to enter a sled provided they meet the above standard. For each men's event 30 sleds will be allowed to compete (maximum of three NOCs with three sleds and six NOCs with two sleds). For the women's event there will be a total of 20 sleds allowed to compete (maximum of two NOCs with three sleds, four NOCs with two sleds).
Qualification timeline Races from October 1, 2013, until January 19 will apply to qualification for the Olympics. In general this means that the Olympic field is established by using the first seven world cup races of the 2013-14 season, but also includes results from intercontinental, Europe, and America cup races. Four sleds will then be allocated in both men's categories, and three in the women's, to either host or continental representation. Unused or reallocated spots will be filled by January 27, 2014.
Quota allocation The following summary is not indicative of assurance of Olympic qualification, but of how the allocations would be represented based on the current FIBT rankings.
Current summary Nations Two-man Four-man Two-woman Athletes 1 1 1 6 1 1 1 6 1 2 1 1 6 3 3 2 16 1 1 4 1 2 8 3 3 3 18 1 2 1 8 1 1 1 4 1 2 1 1 4 2 2 8 1 2 2 1 1 1 6 1 1 4 1 1 1 8 2 3 2 16 1 2 1 1 4 2 2 1 10 2 2 1 2 9 3 2 3 16Total: 23 NOCs 30 30 20 169 Most countries have athletes that crossover between the two-men and four-men events. Romania and the United States are the only two countries which have some turnover between the two-men and four-man teams.
Two man Final ranking by nation (as of January 18, 2013).FIBT ranking Sleds qualifiedAthletes totalRank of applicable sled318 6 11 12218 13 14 15 22 29124 19 20 21 23 24 26 27 28 32 35 39 41 48 52 30 60 19
Netherlands qualified two sleds, but elected to send only one. The final four sleds are given to fulfill continental representation (Australia), and then to the top nations not previously qualified (Poland, Jamaica, Serbia). Czech Republic received the unused quota spot from the Netherlands. Slovakia was ranked higher, but also declined the spot.
Four man Final ranking by nation (as of January 19, 2014).
Sleds qualifiedAthletes totalRank of applicable sled336 8 10 13240 14 15 20 27 44 46144 11 16 17 23 24 30 32 35 36 37 38 30 120
Switzerland rejected one of its two qualified sleds. The final four sleds (Brazil, Poland, Slovakia, Serbia) are allocated at the end to the top nations not previously qualified. Slovakia received the unused quota spot from Switzerland.
Two women Final ranking by nation (as of January 19, 2014). Sleds qualifiedAthletes totalRank of applicable sled312 6 7212 12 14 18116 9 11 13 19 20 23 27 29 28 20 40 12
Italy rejected using its quota it qualified. The final three sleds are given to fulfill continental representation (South Korea), and then to the top nations not previously qualified (Brazil and Italy). Romania received the unused quota spot from Italy.
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