Skeleton at the Olympics is a high‑speed winter sliding sport where athletes race headfirst down an ice track on a small sled, aiming for the fastest total time over multiple runs.

What is skeleton in the Olympics?

In Olympic skeleton, athletes sprint alongside their sled for about 30 meters, then dive on and ride face down, headfirst, reaching speeds of around 120–130 km/h on an ice track shared with bobsleigh and luge. They steer using subtle shoulder, head, and leg movements, all while holding a tight, aerodynamic body position just a few centimeters above the ice.

How a skeleton race works

  • The start: Athletes push the sled while sprinting, then “load” onto it in one smooth motion; a powerful start is crucial for a fast run.
  • Steering: They use shoulders and tiny head shifts, and in emergencies a toe or leg, to change the sled’s angle in each corner.
  • Forces: Riders experience up to 4–5 Gs in the curves, so they must read the track and react in split seconds.
  • Timing: At the Olympics, athletes usually do four runs over two days, and their times are added; the lowest total time wins.

Imagine sprinting on ice, then flying through a frozen roller‑coaster with no brakes or steering wheel—that’s essentially the feel of Olympic skeleton.

Olympic history of skeleton

  • Debut: Skeleton first appeared at the Winter Olympics in 1928 in St. Moritz, Switzerland, using the famous Cresta Run natural ice track.
  • Second early appearance: It returned in 1948, again only in St. Moritz, then disappeared from the Olympic program for decades.
  • Return as a regular sport: Skeleton was reintroduced permanently at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, with both men’s and women’s events added to the program.

Today, skeleton is a fixed part of the Winter Games, including Milano‑Cortina 2026, and continues to grow in global popularity.

Key facts at a glance

  • Sport type: Individual sliding sport, headfirst on a small sled.
  • Venue: Artificial ice tracks used for bobsleigh and luge.
  • Olympic events: Men’s skeleton and women’s skeleton.
  • First Olympic gold: Jennison Heaton (USA) in 1928, with his brother John taking silver.
  • Modern milestone: Skeleton has been on every Winter Olympic program since 2002.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.