If it is speed you want to see, then look no further than luge.
Luge is the fastest sport at the Winter Olympics with athletes hurtling down an ice track at speeds of over 90mph.
But while the sport itself is one of the oldest at the Games, having originated in the 16th century in Switzerland, it has only featured in the Olympics since 1964.
And at Milano Cortina 2026, the sport will make more history as women’s doubles makes its debut.
What is a luge?
The luge refers both to the sport and the sled that athletes use to race down the track.
Unlike bobsleigh or skeleton, athletes in luge – or lugers – sit feet first in a supine position and start the run seated, using handles to propel themselves forward at the top of the track.
Lugers either compete individually or in pairs and steer using shoulder pressure or their calf muscles to direct the luge’s runners.
The tracks are specially designed to increase a lugers speed over time with gravity, and the winner is simply the athlete who finishes with the fastest time after four runs.
What is the history of the luge?
While Norway was the site of the first-recorded sled races in the 15th century, it was St. Moritz in Switzerland where the sport of luge was developed.
The first organised meeting of luge took place in the alpine country in 1883, but it was far more recently that it first made an appearance at the Winter Olympics.
That came in 1964 at the Innsbruck Olympic Winter Games, featuring medal opportunities across men’s singles, women’s singles, and a doubles event.
With the team relay having been added to the luge billing at Sochi 2014, the addition of women’s doubles at Milano Cortina in 2026 will see Olympic champions crowned in the luge.
Which nations are the most successful in luge?
Germany have proved dominant in the luge, picking up 87 Olympic medals from a possible 153 since the sport was first introduced at the Games.
At Beijing 2022, Germany achieved a clean sweep of golds as Johannes Ludwig won the men’s singles and Natalie Geisenberger did the same in the women’s singles.
Germany also claimed gold in the open doubles and team relay, as well as taking the silver in the women’s singles and open doubles, too.
Both Ludwig and Geisenberger have since retired, however, which could leave space for a different nation to rise up in 2026.
Hosts Italy will fancy their chances as the only nation to have won more medals than Germany at a single Games – doing so in Lillehammer in 1994 – while Austria are leading the way in the World Cups for women so far in 2026.
What is Team GB’s history in the luge?
Unlike fellow sled sports bobsleigh and skeleton, the luge has not taken on the same popularity in the UK.
Team GB remain in search of their first medal in the sport, and most recently that ambition fell on the shoulders of Rupert Staudinger.
The 28-year-old was the only member of Team GB to compete in the event at Beijing 2022 where he finished 23rd in the men’s singles event.
Team GB’s best finish in the luge came at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid where Derek Prentice and Christopher Dyason finished 14th in the open doubles.
Sportsbeat 2026