Patrick Baumgartner: An eventful year awaits

“The goal is to be in contention for medals at the home Games,” declared Patrick Baumgartner ahead of the Olympic season. The 30-year-old from Issing will be competing in the new “Eugenio Monti” ice track in Cortina in February 2026 – barring any unforeseen circumstances. Italy’s hopes will rest on his shoulders, as the Puster Valley native has been Italy’s number one bobsledder for years.

He has repeatedly proven his ability to compete for top positions in both two-man and four-man bobsleigh. His greatest achievement to date is a second-place finish in the premier four-man event in mid-November 2023. While this remains his only podium finish, Baumgartner also placed among the top six several times last season. He knows: "The competition at the top is extremely fierce."

The debut on the Olympic track The dress rehearsal for the Olympics will take place with the World Cup opener on November 22nd in Cortina d'Ampezzo, of all places. He already noticed during training in October that the new ice track suits him well. He is also thrilled about the new bobsleigh track. "It's very important for our sport," said Baumgartner. He believes it gives Italy, as a bobsleigh nation, a better chance of establishing itself among the world's elite in the future.

Over the summer, Baumgartner and his teammates focused primarily on start training in the four-man bobsleigh. "There was a noticeable improvement across the entire team. This has increased our motivation to start the new season even further," says the Issingen native. He will be joined in the four-man bobsleigh by his tried-and-tested team of Robert Mircea, Eric Fantazzini, and Lorenzo Bilotti. In the two-man bobsleigh, the Puster Valley native will normally start with brakeman Mircea, though a switch is possible depending on form. In the World Cup, which this season is undoubtedly overshadowed by the Olympics, the "Azzurri" primarily want to build confidence for the major event in February and establish themselves further at the top. "The equipment is also good. But of course, we have to see how everything develops over the course of the season," Baumgartner emphasizes.

This summer, the focus was naturally on preparation. Despite the many training sessions, Baumgartner still found time for hikes and mountain tours with family, friends, and his fiancée, Greta Passler. The wedding is planned for June 2026 and will be another major highlight in a very special year for Patrick Baumgartner.

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Patrick Baumgartner: An eventful year awaits

The Olympics and a wedding: 2026 will be a special year for Italy's number one bobsledder. But Patrick Baumgartner is ready for it.

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