Everything You Need to Know about Skeleton this Winter Olympics.
One of the games of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing this month is Skeleton, an extreme sledding sport where competitors speed headfirst down an icy, narrow track.
What is Skeleton and how does it work? Skeleton is an ice sliding game on a track with many bends and curves in it. Athletes speed headfirst down the track on a flat toboggan with their heads centimeters above the ice. The competitors gain speed by leaning their heads and shoulders to gain torque. They can reach speeds of over 80 mph (130 km/h).
The toboggans don’t have brakes or steering mechanisms, so the athletes shift their weight and use special shoes to brake and steer. The entire process requires intense focus and immense physical coordination by the athletes on the track.
Surprisingly, Skeleton’s origins come from English soldiers in Switzerland in 1882. Though likely inspired by the British game of Cresta and other similar tobogganing games, the difference lies in the extreme bends in the track. The origins of the name ‘Skeleton’ are debated, but it might have come from an anglicization of the Norwegian word for sleigh, “kjelke.”
Another theory is that it comes from the skeleton-looking arrangement of bars on the sled used. Skeleton first appeared in the Olympics when it was hosted by Skeleton’s birthplace, St. Moritz, Switzerland, in 1928. It was brought back in 1948 when it was hosted, yet again, by St. Moritz, Switzerland. This Swiss sport wouldn’t resurface for another 54 years, but was finally seen again in 2002 at the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah. Skeleton has been a mainstay ever since.
“I’m ready to roll, bring it on. I’m ready for race day. I don’t plan on this being my last Olympics, and I have nothing to lose this week.” John Daly; USA Olympic Men’s Skeleton Athlete.
There will be a men’s event and a women’s event spanning from February 10-12 on NBC and Peacock. You can see the full schedule below, along with two YouTube videos if you want to learn more!
Thursday, February 10
9:30 AM Men Heat 1
11:00 AM Men Heat 2
Friday, February 11
9:30 AM Woman Heat 1
11:00 AM Woman Heat 2
8:20 PM Men Heat 3
9:55 PM Men Heat 4
Saturday, February 12
8:20 PM Woman Heat 3
9:55 PM Woman Heat 4
Joshua Miller is a writer for Hillsboro High School is in the tenth grade. He is a member of the Academy of International Business and Communications....
Thomas Fox is a journalist at Hillsboro High School, and is in 10th grade. He is a member of the Academy of International Business and Communications....
