Bobsleigh

To increase Switzerland's chances of winning a medal in four-man bobsleigh, three-time Olympic bronze medallist Beat Hefti has given up his position as pilot of the country's second sled, and opted instead to push for teammate Ivo Rüegg.

Hefti, the No. 1-ranked two-man pilot in the world, will still drive one of Switzerland's two-man sleds at the Vancouver Games.

"Beat Hefti decided to do that himself," Swiss team spokesman Christof Kaufmann told VANOC. "He wanted to start as pilot in the team for SUI2 in the four-man bob, but decided he would push for SUI1 for better medal chances."   

Hefti was a pusher at the last two Games, winning bronze in the two- and four-man races in Turin, and bronze in the two-man at the 2002 Olympic Games in Salt Lake City.

He became a pilot after Turin and is ranked No. 1 for two-man and 17th for four-man. Ruegg is ranked second for two- and seventh for four-man.

The Swiss Bobsleigh Federation put the best crewmen on Ruegg's four-man SUI1 sled, which means Thomas Lamparter, Hefti's brakeman, switched to Rueegg's team.

"After this decision, because he lost his best pusher, Beat offered to become a pusher for SUI1," Kaufmann said.

"There was no pressure on him from the Swiss team. The only thing was that he had to give his best pusher to SUI1. He decided to elevate the medal chances and become a pusher again, just for these Games. It was a tough decision for him."