Skeleton at the Winter Olympics facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Skeleton at the Winter Olympics |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Governing body | IBSF |
| Events | 3 (men: 1; women: 1; mixed: 1) |
| Games | |
|
|
|
|
Skeleton is an exciting winter sport. Athletes slide head-first down an icy track on a small sled. They lie on their stomach, face down, to gain speed. This sport is a thrilling race against gravity!
Skeleton first appeared in the Winter Olympics in St. Moritz in 1928 Winter Olympics. It was also part of the 1948 Winter Olympics. After that, it took a long break from the Olympic Games.
In October 1999, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided to bring skeleton back. It was added to the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. Both men's and women's events were included. Since then, skeleton has been a regular part of every Winter Olympic competition. In June 2022, the IOC added a new event. A mixed team competition was added for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
The sport is called "skeleton" because the first metal sleds, made in 1892, looked a bit like a human skeleton. It's similar to luge, another sledding sport. However, in luge, athletes slide feet-first and lie on their back (face up). In skeleton, it's always head-first and face down. Even though they often use the same tracks, the way they race is different. Luge sleds are usually faster than skeleton sleds.
Another related sport is monobob. This is a single-rider bobsleigh event. It is also in the Winter Olympics for women. Monobob racers sit inside an enclosed sled, unlike skeleton.
Contents
What is Skeleton?
Skeleton is a fast-paced winter sport. Athletes race down a frozen track. They use a special sled designed for speed. The goal is to finish the course in the shortest time.
The Thrill of the Ride
Imagine sliding down an icy chute at high speeds! Skeleton athletes start with a short sprint. They push their sled to get a good start. Then, they jump onto the sled, lying flat on their stomach. Their head points forward, just inches above the ice.
Riders steer the sled using small shifts in their body weight. They wear special helmets and suits for safety. The tracks are full of twists and turns. This makes the sport very challenging and exciting.
Skeleton's Olympic History
Skeleton has a fascinating journey in the Olympic Games. It was first introduced in 1928. Then it returned in 1948. After these early appearances, it was removed from the program for many years.
It made a grand comeback at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. This time, both men and women could compete. Since 2002, skeleton has been a popular event at every Winter Olympics. For the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics, a new mixed team event was added. This means teams with both male and female athletes will compete together.
Olympic Medals in Skeleton
Many countries have won medals in skeleton at the Winter Olympics. Here is a list of the nations with the most medals. This table includes results up to the 2022 Winter Olympics.
Sources (after the 2022 Winter Olympics):
Accurate as of 2022 Winter Olympics.
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  United States |
3 | 4 | 1 | 8 |
| 2 |  Great Britain |
3 | 1 | 5 | 9 |
| 3 |  Germany |
2 | 3 | 1 | 6 |
| 4 |  Canada |
2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 5 |  Latvia |
1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 6 |  Switzerland |
1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 7 |  Italy |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
 South Korea |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 9 |  Australia |
0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
 Austria |
0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
 Olympic Athletes from Russia |
0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 12 |  Russia |
0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 13 |  China |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
 Netherlands |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Totals (14 entries) | 14 | 13 | 15 | 42 | |
See also
In Spanish: Skeleton en los Juegos Olímpicos para niños
- List of Olympic venues in skeleton
 | Ernest Everett Just |
 | Mary Jackson |
 | Emmett Chappelle |
 | Marie Maynard Daly |
