BLACKSBURG, Va. — A Virginia Tech engineering project has enabled the first one-handed athlete to successfully steer a bobsled, marking a breakthrough in adaptive sports technology.
Army veteran David Snypes Jr., who lost his arm in a motorcycle accident, made history by navigating the technically demanding Lake Placid track using a specialized one-handed steering system developed by Virginia Tech engineering students.
Traditionally, bobsledding requires two-handed rope steering, limiting participation for athletes with upper-limb mobility challenges. While para bobsledding has accommodated those with lower body or back injuries, the sport remained inaccessible to one-armed athletes until now.
“The human spirit is truly remarkable, and it’s incredible to see how the Bobsled/Skeleton community is pushing the limits of what athletes can achieve,” said DJ Skelton, a U.S. Para Bobsled team member who conducted initial testing. “Can an athlete with no legs bobsled? One arm? One eye? Absolutely! We’re proving it—and making history in the process.”…