Serious accident
After horror injury: Bobsleigh team boycotts event in Germany
January 6, 2026 – 4:00 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
Almost two years ago, Michael Vogt and his team had a serious accident in Altenberg. Now they no longer want to compete on the track – and are criticizing the operators.
The four-man bobsleigh team led by Swiss number one Michael Vogt wants to skip this year’s World Cup stop in Altenberg, Saxony. Vogt announced this in an interview with the Swiss “Blick”. “I’m not driving on a track where one of our pushers almost died and nothing has changed since then,” Vogt clearly explained his decision not to take part in the last World Cup race before the start of the Olympic Games in February.
The bobsleigh star and his team say they do not agree with the way the accident will be dealt with in February 2024. At that time, Vogt’s four-man bobsleigh crashed heavily in Altenburg and pusher Sandro Michel was thrown from the bobsleigh. The unconscious Michel was then run over by the bobsleigh. He sustained injuries to his pelvis, thigh and chest, had to undergo emergency surgery in Dresden and was in danger of losing his life. Michel survived and is currently still working on his comeback.
After Vogt missed last year due to back surgery, he is also skipping Altenberg this year and prefers to take part in the European Cup event in Innsbruck instead. He is protesting against the fact that no changes have been made to the railway since the accident in Altenburg and instead quickly returned to the agenda.
The criticism primarily relates to the finish line of the track, which is built uphill so that the bobsleigh can slide back onto the track after a fall and, as in Michel’s case, injure athletes lying there unconscious. Vogt therefore also has the backing of the Swiss association for his boycott. “The selection committee understands this extraordinary situation,” it said in a statement.