Skeleton is an adrenaline packed sport where athletes slide head first down an iced bobsled track with their arms back at speeds reaching up to 80 mph. There are no seat belts, no engine, and no brakes. Make no bones about it.
Skeleton athletes apply pressure with their shoulders and knees to torque the fiberglass body of the sled to steer. Skeleton athletes need to have a strong push by exploding off the starting block and sprinting on ice while pushing the sled for the first 30-meters before loading onto the sled.
Required equipment includes a sled, runners, helmet, speed suit, and spikes. Athletes must be aggressive and powerful at the start; yet graceful and calm once loaded onto the sled in order to navigate the course.
The sport of skeleton dates back to the 19th century when men enjoyed racing each other down the streets of St. Mortiz, Switzerland, which hosted the 1928 and 1948 Winter Olympic Games.
