It is an image that at first glance is extremely irritating. The three best bobsleigh teams in the two-man race stand on the podium on the stage in the finish area in Celerina GR. The three pilots and their brakes have their World Championship medals hanging from their necks. But the fans only see that the six bob cracks wear white ribbons around their necks.
on the ribbon? Nothing seems to hang there. There is no gold, silver or bronze flashing. The invisible medals of the Bobsleigh World Championships in St. Moritz.
Only at second glance does it become clear: These “Plämpu” are made of glass instead of metal covered with gold, silver and bronze as is usual. Only a fine rim in bronze tone indicates the third place of pilot Michael Vogt (25) and brakeman Sandro Michel (26), and there is a World Cup engraving in the glass.
The Ice Channel World Association IBSF irritates with its World Championship medals. The historic precious metal from Vogt – the Schwyz racer races in a small sled to the first Swiss World Cup podium in seven years on Sunday – is made of glass instead of bronze.
Vogt takes it easy. The meaning of the medal is important to him, not the design. “The medals often look like this at the IBSF,” he says. The bobsleigh star, on the other hand, likes the small trophy for third place, with a bronze globe emblazoned on top. These mini trophies are donated by the local OC of the World Cup.
Next weekend, Vogt and his team are chasing the next piece of glass of ideal value in a four-person sled. “We want to annoy the Germans again and drive for the podium,” announces the Swiss number 1.
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