One of Team GB’s most successful winter sports, skeleton sees competitors slide head first down an ice track in a timed competition across four runs.
Team GB have won nine Olympic medals since the sport's first inclusion, including three golds.
Ready to soar again at Milano Cortina 2026, with the mixed team event set to make it's Olympic debut, we answer all your questions about the fast-paced and high-risk thriller.
When was skeleton invented?
Skeleton is derived from one of the oldest winter sports in the book: sledging.
Its basic origins can be traced all the way back to 16th Century literature but was brought into the mainstream by British holidaymakers in the Alps during the mid-19th Century.
In fact, the first taboggan run was built by American and British tourists in Davos in 1882.
The sport of skeleton racing itself owes its start to St Moritz in Switzerland, with the sport developing there over the years through the famed Cresta Run.
It made its Olympic debut at St Moritz 1928 and has been a regular sport on the programme since 2002.
How do skeleton athletes steer?
Simply put, skeleton athletes steer through head, shoulders, knees and toes.
There's is no mechanical steering in the sport and athletes must marginally shift their body weight as they move around the track at high speeds.
Turning their head and shifting their shoulders can create torque, which helps initiate turns, while knees and toes can be used to put pressure on the sled's corners, further influencing its direction.
What equipment do you need for skeleton?
The sled is made out of fibreglass and steel, with two steel runners touching the ice.
A helmet and aerodynamic skin-tight suit is worn by the athletes while spiked shoes are used to help with grip on the fast-paced track start.
How fast to athletes go in skeleton?
Skeleton athletes begin with a running start, with the best athletes in the world able to clock 50m in five seconds or less.
On the sled, athletes can reach up to 140km per hour or 87 miles per hour on a sloping track between 1200m and 1650m.
Reaching such high speeds also means that the athlete will pull around 5G of force on the track, or five times the force of gravity.
How do you stop in skeleton?
Gravity is at play here, with the ice track sloping upwards to allow for the sled to slow down naturally.
Athletes will also lift their head up and put their feet down on the floor to create friction for drag.
Some tracks will also have fresh snow or foam pads at the end of the run to help athletes stop.
Where do British skeleton athletes train?
There is no specific ice track in Britain due to temperatures.
However, the University of Bath is home to the UK's only bobsleigh and skeleton push track.
This is a 140m long track, that emulates the beginning of the run, for athletes and allows them to practice off ice before heading out for their season.
What is the difference between skeleton and luge?
Skeleton athletes race down the track face first, with their chin almost touching the ice, whilst luge athletes lie face up and feet first.
A skeleton sled is thinner and heavier that it's luge counterpart, with skeleton the slowest of the sliding sports due to the position being less aerodynamic.
Skeleton also starts with a running track start whilst luge has the athlete starting on the sled, sat down.
Mixed team skeleton is a new Olympic event for @milanocortina26.
— Team GB (@TeamGB) January 29, 2023
Britain just won 🥈 and 🥉 at the World Championships! pic.twitter.com/YbgWcnpNRb
How does the skeleton mixed team work?
One of the newest events for Milano Cortina 2026, mixed team skeleton sees one woman and one man compete for each nation.
The event is contested over a single heat, with the female athlete starting first and male second.
The total time of both athlete's runs combined to determine their placing, with the lowest combined time named the winner.
Sportsbeat 2025