Haut-Rhinois Romain Heinrich is playing its third Olympic Games in Beijing. A bobsleigh pusher in Sochi in 2014, he was already a pilot in Pyeongchang in 2018. In China, he hopes to confirm his progress shown in recent years, in particular in the 2-man bobsleigh event, where he had notably won a third place in the championships from Europe in 2019.
“On the 2-man bobsleigh, we want to play a top 6 or better with Dorian Hauterville, explains the athlete from Kaysersberg. The competition will be very open and why not with four regular runs on the podium? We’ve been preparing for this for years. We tell ourselves that in the race of a lifetime, it can pass. In 4-man bobsleigh, we hope for a top 8-10″.
The first bobsleigh medal for France since 1998?
Romain Heinrich hopes to become the second French bobsleigh pilot in Beijing to win an Olympic medal, after Bruno Mingeon in Nagano in 1998. A podium would crown his progress in the elite of bobsleigh pilots.
The Haut-Rhinois, who will return to full-time engineering work in the spring, was first a shot putter high level. He plunged into the bobsleigh after a baptism on the La Plagne track in 2011. A devouring passion which gives him a strong personal fulfillment.
“There are so many facets to this sport that I am completely in love with it, smiles Romain Heinrich. There is the physical dimension with this explosive pushing effort that I knew in athletics. There is the collective aspect, the team sport. There are downhill sensations. As a pilot, there is the notion of mental effort, concentration, taking responsibility, managing emotions, sometimes fear. And then there is the garage engineer part on the optimization of the bob”.
Romain Heinrich’s prize list
- Bronze medal at the European Championships from bob to 2 in 2019.
- Two appearances at the Olympics in 2014 (as a pusher) and in 2018 (pilot). Best ranking (13th in 2-man bobsleigh in 2018).
- Best World Cup result: 2nd in Lake Placid in 2-man bobsleigh in 2019.
Romain Heinrich’s schedule for the 2022 Beijing Olympics
- Monday February 14at 1:05 p.m. (French time) then at 2:10 p.m.: first two rounds in the 2-man bobsleigh.
- Tuesday, February 15, at 1:15 p.m. then at 2:50 p.m.: two last rounds in the 2-man bobsleigh.
- Saturday February 19, at 2:30 a.m. then at 4:05 a.m.: first two rounds in the 4-man bobsleigh.
- Sunday February 20, at 2:30 a.m. then at 4:20 a.m.: two last rounds in a 4-man bobsleigh.
