Sport: Beware Zigzag and Shady

• Share

(2 of 2)

If Davenport is new to the sport, the American team is not new to the course, and that could prove to be a crucial advantage. While the East Germans, perennial contenders in world bobsledding, constructed a replica of the start at home to practice their getaway, they were unable to reproduce the precise treachery of Zigzag and Shady. Besides, says Gragg: "You can practice the start all you want, but Zigzag and Shady will determine the winner."

They will also determine whether anyone will crack the one-minute barrier for a one-mile run, the sport's equivalent of Roger Bannister breaking the four-minute mile. Says Bob Hickey, driver of America's No. 1 sled: "It can be done on this track, but I don't know that I'd want to be in the sled that does it." The existing world record: 1:01:32.