What Does the Second Person in Bobsled Do? In bobsled racing, the "second person" varies by event: the brakeman in two-person sleds or the No. 2 pusher in four-person sleds. Both play critical roles in starting strong and maintaining stability during high-speed descents on ice tracks.

Two-Person Bobsled Breakdown

The crew consists of just the pilot (driver) up front and the brakeman in back.

  • The brakeman pushes hardest at the start, using two handles on the sled's shell to leap in after a powerful run—often described as a "long jump" into a deadlift-like position for maximum leg force.
  • Once loaded (ideally under a second), they stay perfectly still as ballast, shifting weight slightly if needed but avoiding any movement that could disrupt aerodynamics or balance.
  • At the run's end, they deploy the brakes by pulling a lever to dig spikes into the ice, stopping the sled safely after speeds topping 90 mph.

"The Brakeman... will forcibly push their entire body through the sled... Once the driver has loaded, the brakeperson will then run as far as they can."

This role demands explosive speed, strength, and precision—no room for error in that chaotic loading "choreography."

Four-Person Bobsled: The No. 2 Role

Here, positions stack as Pilot → No. 2 → No. 3 → Brakeman (No. 4). The second person (No. 2) is one of two elite pushers.

  • They launch from a tiny foothold (about iPhone-sized), crossing their outside foot to propel forward ~1.5 meters, grabbing handles near the pilot's head while swinging legs over.
  • No. 2 holds a "keystone" position —hanging suspended until No. 3 and 4 load, then dropping to lock the crew tight, with their waist slotting between No. 3's legs for stability.
  • During the run, they act as human ballast , remaining motionless to minimize drag; power from the push translates to higher top speeds.

Role| Key Start Duty| In-Run Job| End Duty
---|---|---|---
Two-Person Brakeman 39| Max push & dive-load| Ballast/stability| Braking
Four-Person No. 2 37| Aerial foothold launch| Keystone lock-in, ballast| None (brakeman handles)

Why It Matters: Power and Precision

That initial 50-meter push can make or break a run—top teams hit 5G forces loading in sync. No. 2 (or brakeman) often needs "well-rounded" traits: solo- side pushing in some setups requires unmatched speed-strength combos. Picture four massive athletes folding into a steel bullet hurtling downhill; one twitch, and it's over.

Recent trends, like Ireland's 2025 Whistler runs or women's monobob rises, highlight evolving brakeman agility demands. Forums buzz with "launch and ballast" takes—simple but spot-on.

TL;DR: Second person powers the explosive start, loads like acrobats, then freezes as deadweight ballast (brakes in 2-man).

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.