Sarah Blizzard's Exemplary Sportsmanship Helps Dutch Bobsledders Achieve Olympic Dream
As the countdown to next month's 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milano-Cortina continues, it's worth reflecting on the true essence of the Olympics. The famous words of Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympics, remind us: 'The important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.'
At the heart of his Olympic vision were sportsmanship and fair play.
And no one has embodied this more than Australian Sarah Blizzard this week.
During the World Cup meet in St. Moritz, Switzerland, the Dutch two-man team of Dave Wesselink and Jelen Franjic faced a significant challenge. Their Olympic dream was at stake.
In the previous week, they finished in 21st place in Winterberg, and to meet the Netherlands' strict qualification criteria, they needed to finish in the top eight in Switzerland or risk missing out while their rivals raced on the Pista Olimpica Eugenio Monti in Cortina d'Ampezzo.
Wesselink explained, 'We saw potential in the two-man bobsled, but the equipment wasn't up to par. A 21st-place finish wasn't where we belonged. That result convinced us that we had to make changes to achieve our goal of making it to the Games.'
The challenge was clear: custom-built sleds can cost up to $150,000, and getting a replacement on short notice was impossible. But what if they could borrow one for their race?
That's when Blizzard stepped in. She told ABC Sport, 'We have a cooperative relationship with our team, the Belgians, and the Dutch at the track. The Dutch coaches and mechanics have been incredibly helpful in the past.'
Blizzard witnessed the Dutch team's struggle in Winterberg and offered her own sled, which she had purchased with sponsors' support and family loans for around €35,000 ($60,700).
She said, 'The Dutch team had a race in Winterberg and didn't achieve the results they needed. I watched the race in my hotel room and saw potential. The coach called me later, asking if I'd consider lending them my sled in St. Moritz. They needed a faster sled, and that's how it happened.'
It was a bold move, but it paid off. The Dutch team secured the necessary results, and Blizzard's generosity was met with gratitude.
Wesselink expressed his appreciation, saying, 'The bobsled world is a big family, and we've always had a good relationship with the Australian women. We politely asked to borrow their two-man bobsled, and they said yes without any hesitation.'
This act of kindness and sportsmanship mirrors the spirit of Eugenio Monti, the Italian sliding legend whose name graces the track where the gold medals will be decided next month.
Monti, the first recipient of the Pierre de Coubertin Fair Play Trophy in 1964, demonstrated selflessness in both the four-man and two-man competitions. He helped the Canadian team fix their sled after an axle break and offered a bolt from his sled to the British team when theirs sheared off.
Despite criticism from the Italian press, Monti emphasized, 'Tony Nash didn't win because I gave him the bolt. He won because he had the fastest run.'
Blizzard, a former track athlete who competed in the Stawell Gift finals and now partners Bree Walker in the two-woman bobsled, is still in the running for a spot in Milano-Cortina.
Ranked 23rd in the 2025/26 Two-Woman Bobsleigh World Cup standings, with a best performance of 17th in Winterberg, Blizzard is also ranked fifth on the Europe Cup circuit. Bree Walker, second in the monobob World Cup standings, is ranked 17th in the two-woman standings.
The Aussies will learn their Olympic fate on Friday when the team is announced in Melbourne, while the Dutch have already secured their spot.
Wesselink shared his excitement, 'My phone is buzzing with messages. It still feels surreal. When we knew we could borrow Sarah's sled, we thought we might get a good result. But finishing eighth is surprising even for us.'
The Dutch team's success is set to continue, as they will borrow Blizzard's sled again next week for the World Cup in Altenberg and likely during the Games.
Blizzard expressed her gratitude, saying, 'Bobsleigh is a big family. Everyone helps everyone. If you need a bolt, someone will have one and won't mind lending it. Sometimes, you might need to buy a case of beer or wine, but everyone is incredibly helpful. Many people have helped me over the years, and I'm glad I can repay the favor. I'm more than happy to help these guys, as they've been incredibly supportive and have worked hard to achieve these results. They deserve it.'
Let's hope Blizzard's kindness is rewarded with a spot at the Games.
