The groundbreaking move means that mixed gender teams can take part in events from this season onwards, including the Europa Cup Series, North American Cup Series, World Cup Series and World Championships.

"We follow the spirit and movements of our time," Ivo Ferriani, the President of the FIBT, said.

"There is a strong belief in the FIBT that men and women can compete together in four-man.

"Therefore the Executive Committee decided to support equal opportunities for men and women in that discipline."

Canadian Kaillie Humphries, a two-time Olympic champion in the two-woman discipline, has already expressed her desire to pilot a four-man bobsleigh pushed by three male team mates in the upcoming season, the sport's world governing body revealed.

Kaillie Humphries (pictured carrying the flag) is keen to pilot a four-man bobsleigh pushed by three male team mates in the upcoming season ©Getty Images


Women have competed in pairs since the early 1990s, but women's bobsleigh has only appeared on the Olympic programme since the Salt Lake City 2002 Games - men have competed in the sport since the first Winter Games in Chamonix in 1924, with the exception of Squaw Valley 1960.

The rule change does not, however, stop all-women teams taking part and although there are no plans to add fours to the all-female competitions, Ferriani said the rules on the gender balance in the four-member crew are open on the men's circuit.

"At the moment we don't have any limits," he added.

"I think, personally, a woman pilot with three men can be strong."

The FIBT is expected to release details of the qualification criteria for the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics in the near future.

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