Urs Salzmann emerged on the international bobsledding scene in 1982 when he won a gold medal in the four-man event at the World Championships alongside his Swiss compatriots Rico Freiermuth, Silvio Giobellina, and Heinz Stettler. The quartet slipped to bronze at the 1983 European Championships, but then claimed in the European crown in 1984 and 1985. Along the way they also participated in the 1984 Winter Olympics, where they finished third behind the two teams from East Germany. After capturing bronze at the 1985 World Championships the quartet split up, but Salzmann and Giobellina continued to compete together and earned bronze at the 1988 European Championships with Curdin Morell and the non-Olympian Celest Poltera. Salzmann then retired from active competition, having been Swiss national champion in the four-man five consecutive times between 1981 and 1985.
Switzerland