how fast is skeleton olympics
Skeleton athletes at the Olympics typically reach speeds of around 120–130 km/h (75–80 mph) during a run, with the very fastest clocked at about 145–150 km/h (90–93 mph) on the quickest tracks.
How fast is skeleton in the Olympics?
- Most Olympic skeleton runs see sliders going over 120 km/h (about 75 mph) on steep, technical tracks.
- Governing bodies and broadcasters often cite typical top speeds “over 130 km/h (80 mph)” for elite-level races.
- The recognized record speed in Olympic skeleton is 146.4 km/h (90.96 mph) , set at the Whistler track during the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games.
- The international federation notes that skeleton sleds can reach up to 150 km/h (over 93 mph) and expose athletes to forces of about 5 g in some curves.
Quick Scoop: what that actually feels like
- Athletes sprint about 30–50 meters, already hitting over 40 km/h within the first five seconds before fully diving onto the sled.
- Once on the sled, they lie head-first with their chin just centimeters from the ice, so even “80 mph” feels more like a low-flying airplane than a typical downhill run.
- Because there are no brakes, they rely on the track’s uphill finish and sometimes soft snow or pads to slow down after the timing line.
Skeleton vs other sliding sports
Here’s how skeleton speed compares with the other big sliding events on the same tracks.
| Sport | Typical top speed | Olympic record / cited max | Riding position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skeleton | ≈ 120–130 km/h (75–80 mph) | [9][1][5]146.4 km/h (90.96 mph) at Vancouver 2010 | [3][1]On stomach, head-first | [1][5]
| Luge | Often slightly faster than skeleton on the same track | [5][1]Reported runs around mid‑150 km/h on the quickest tracks (varies by course, often not officially recorded in the same way) | [9][5]On back, feet-first | [5]
| Bobsled | Similar or higher than luge, especially four-man sleds | [1][5]Mid‑150 km/h range reported on the fastest Olympic tracks, depending on load and ice conditions | [5]Seated in sled, behind a cowling | [5]
Latest context and forum chatter
With Milan–Cortina 2026 underway, skeleton is again being highlighted as one of the fastest and most visually intense events on the program, especially in TV explainers aimed at new viewers. On forums and social threads, people often compare “how is this even safe?” reactions, focusing on the head-first position at highway speeds rather than the raw speed numbers themselves. You’ll also see recurring discussions about track design and safety, especially on historically quick courses like Whistler, where record speeds were set.
TL;DR: In Olympic skeleton, expect speeds around 120–130 km/h (75–80 mph), with the fastest runs ever hitting roughly 146 km/h (91 mph) on the quickest tracks.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.
