Skeleton Sledding | Definition, History, & Facts - Britannica

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• Introduction & Top Questions
• History and inclusion in Olympic Games
• Equipment

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• How fast do skeleton sleds go?
• When did the Olympic Games start?
• When are the Olympic Games?
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skeleton sledding sport Ask Anything Homework Help Written and fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Jan. 29, 2026 •History Britannica AI Ask Anything Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask Anything Top Questions

What is skeleton sledding?

Skeleton sledding is a winter sport in which a sled is ridden in a headfirst prone position on the same courses that are used for bobsled and luge contests.

When was skeleton sledding included in the Winter Olympics?

Skeleton sledding was included in the Winter Olympics in 1928 and 1948 before a long absence. It returned in 2002 with events for both men and women.

How fast do skeleton sleds go?

Athletes on skeleton sleds regularly attain speeds of more than 129 km (80 miles) per hour. The world record top speed reached in competition is 146.4 km (90.96 miles) per hour, set during the Vancouver Winter Olympics in 2010. Both lugers and bobsledders, which use the same track, are able to reach faster speeds than skeleton sledders.

skeleton sledding, winter sport in which the skeleton sled, consisting of steel runners fastened to a platform chassis, is ridden in a headfirst prone position. Skeleton sledding competitions are typically held on the same courses used for bobsled and luge contests. It is a dangerous and thrilling sport in which riders, with their faces just inches above the icy course, attain speeds of more than 129 km (80 miles) per hour.

History and inclusion in Olympic Games

The sport of skeleton sledding developed on the famed Cresta Run, built in 1884 at St. Moritz, Switzerland. The Cresta Run, which follows a 1,213-meter (1,327-yard) course from St. Moritz to the town of Celerina, has hosted the annual Grand National championships since 1885. The 1887 Grand National saw the first competitors to careen down the run headfirst. A new sled made entirely of steel was introduced in 1892. The sled was popular with Cresta Run patrons, and some claim that its “bony” appearance gave the sled and the sport the name “skeleton.”

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Skeleton sledding was included twice in the Olympic Winter Games, in 1928 and 1948, each time at St. Moritz, but, with the sport limited to competition only at the Cresta Run, it was surpassed in popularity by bobsled and luge and fell into obscurity. However, by the early 1970s adjustments to the skeleton sled and artificial bob runs had been made, and international skeleton competition was rejuvenated. By 1987 world championships and World Cup competitions had been established, and the sport was recognized by the Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing (FIBT; now the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation [IBSF]). Skeleton sledding returned to the Winter Olympics program in 2002, with events for both men and women.

Standout skeleton sledders include Jim Shea, Jr., of the United States, who won gold at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, and Martins Dukurs of Latvia, who won the overall World Cup title nine times between 2010 and 2020.

Key People: Martins Dukurs Jim Shea, Jr. (Show more) Related Topics: Olympic Games Which Winter Sport Is the Fastest? Winter Olympic Games sledding (Show more) See all related content

Equipment

The sled used in IBSF competition consists of a riding board and a steel frame to which two steel runners are attached. Two handles on the sled aid the rider in pushing the sled at the start, and bumpers along the sides provide protection from the hard jolts of the track. The sled has no steering mechanism or brakes and is controlled by the rider’s dragging a foot on the ice and subtly shifting his or her weight. The rider wears a helmet with chin guard, gloves, an aerodynamic bodysuit, and spiked shoes. In international competition each athlete makes two runs; the final standings are based on the aggregate time.

Know the Other Winter Olympic Sports Ice hockey Figure skating Snowboarding Ski mountaineering Alpine skiing Curling Speed skating Biathlon Bobsledding Cross-country skiing Freestyle skiing Luge Short-track speed skating Ski jumping The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Will Gosner.