Ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milano-Cortina, Australian bobsledder Sarah Blizzard provided her bobsled to the Dutch two-man team of Dave Wesselink and Jelen Franjic at a World Cup event in St. Moritz, Switzerland. This assistance enabled the Dutch team to meet their Olympic qualification criteria.
The Dutch team had struggled with their equipment, finishing 21st in a previous event. To qualify for the Olympics, they needed a top-eight finish in St. Moritz. Custom-built bobsleds are expensive and not readily available, prompting their request to Blizzard.
Blizzard's sled, acquired through sponsors and family loans, was loaned to the Dutch team as it was not in use during the men's two-man race. Wesselink and Franjic subsequently secured an eighth-place finish, which ensured their Olympic qualification. The Dutch team confirmed they plan to continue using Blizzard's sled for future competitions, including the Olympics.
This act of sportsmanship has been compared to Italian bobsledder Eugenio Monti, who received the first Pierre de Coubertin Fair Play Trophy in 1964 for aiding rival teams by providing equipment parts during the Innsbruck Games. The teams Monti assisted went on to win gold medals.
Blizzard stated that bobsleigh is a cooperative sport where teams frequently offer mutual support. She is also vying for a spot at the Milano-Cortina Games.