Skeleton (sport) facts for kids

Brady Canfield pushes off at the start of a skeleton race.

Skeleton is an exciting winter sport where a person rides a small sled down a frozen track. The rider lies face down on the sled, going head-first down the icy course. It's a very fast sport!

Skeleton has been part of the Winter Olympics since 2002. It was also included in the Games in 1928 and 1948.

What is Skeleton?

Skeleton is a thrilling sport that involves sliding down a special ice track. Riders use a small, heavy sled. They start by running and pushing the sled. Then, they jump onto it, landing on their stomach. They go down the track head-first.

How Fast Do Skeleton Riders Go?

Riders can reach incredibly high speeds. They often go over 140 kilometres per hour (87 miles per hour). This makes skeleton one of the fastest sports on ice. Because of these high speeds, it is considered a dangerous sport. Riders wear special helmets and suits for protection.

History of Skeleton

The sport of skeleton began in the late 1800s. It started in Switzerland. The first official race was held in 1887. The name "skeleton" might have come from the sled's look. Early sleds were very basic, like a skeleton.

Skeleton at the Olympics

Skeleton first appeared in the Winter Olympics in 1928. This was at the Games in St. Moritz, Switzerland. It was then removed for many years. It returned for the 1948 Olympics, also in St. Moritz. After that, it was not an Olympic sport again until 2002. Since 2002, skeleton has been a regular event at every Winter Olympics. Both men and women compete in separate events.

Related Sports

Skeleton is similar to other sliding sports. These sports use ice tracks and sleds.

• Bobsled: In bobsled, teams of two or four people ride in a larger, enclosed sled. They also go down an ice track.
• Luge: Luge is another sliding sport. Riders lie on their backs, feet-first, on a small sled. Luge is often considered the fastest of the three sliding sports.

Images for kids

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  Lizzy Yarnold competing in the World Cup at Lake Placid in November 2017.

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  Yun Sung-bin, a famous skeleton athlete.

See also

In Spanish: Skeleton para niños