Sophia De Silvestro, 35, is embarking on a new career as a bobsledder after a successful stint in motorsports. Born in Thun, Switzerland, De Silvestro has represented Switzerland in various racing events, including the legendary Indianapolis 500 in the IndyCar series. She has also competed in the Formula E championship, sports car races, and touring car events in Australia. Additionally, she served as a test driver for the Sauber Formula 1 team.
Now, De Silvestro is pursuing a new challenge on the icy tracks of bobsledding. Despite her Swiss roots, she aims to represent Italy as a bobsled pilot, as she holds dual citizenship. Her ultimate goal is to qualify for the Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo in three years‘ time.
Expressing her excitement on social media, De Silvestro said, „I am truly proud to represent Italy, especially because my great-grandfather was the first person to climb Mount Civetta, and my father’s family comes from the Italian mountains. As their descendant, it feels right to represent them. I am looking forward to the upcoming season.“
De Silvestro made her debut in the European Cup in Lillehammer, Norway, and showed promise. Alongside her brakewoman, Giulia Chenetova, she finished eighth in the two-woman bobsled event. In the monobob event, she secured a respectable twelfth place as a pilot.
De Silvestro is not the first athlete to make the transition from racing tracks to bobsled tracks. In the 1950s, Spanish Marquis Alfonso de Portago achieved success in both Formula 1 racing and bobsledding. He finished second in the 1956 British Grand Prix while driving for Ferrari. Just six months prior, he narrowly missed out on a bronze medal in the two-man bobsled event at the Cortina d’Ampezzo Olympics. Alongside his partner, Vicente Sartorius y Cabeza de Vaca, they fell short of the podium by a mere 14 hundredths of a second. The following year, de Portago and Luis Núñez won a bronze medal at the World Championships in St. Moritz.
De Silvestro’s transition from motorsports to bobsledding showcases her versatility as an athlete. With her determination and previous racing experience, she has the potential to make a significant impact in the world of bobsledding and achieve her Olympic dreams.
