Athletes must negotiate a series of tricky twists and turns, on a one-person sled that offers little protection from the ice or barriers, while reaching speeds of up to 140km/h. The track can be unforgiving – so the athletes must stay focused or risk finding themselves on the cold ice. To be the best of the best, athletes need lightning-fast reaction times, physical and mental strength and a bit of help from the latest technology.
If you’re new to skeleton, join us for a quick tour through the key elements of the sport.
Equipment
Every athlete needs a sled, a helmet and the correct clothing. Here we’ll show you why each is so important.
Skeleton explained
The athlete must master two parts to skeleton: the start and driving the sled. Here we’ll explain both.
The track
Ice tracks vary in terms of distances, heights and difficulties – and athletes must be prepared for every corner.
Competition
Of course every athlete dreams about bringing home gold at the Olympics, but there are other prestigious events on the skeleton circuit.
History
Believe it or not, skeleton is the oldest sliding sport, dating back to the 1800s. Since then it’s become a major Olympic sport.