Skeleton at the Winter Olympics

Skeleton at the Winter Olympics: Skeleton is a discipline of bobsleigh. Skeleton is often considered to be one of the oldest sliding sports, which evolved in the snowy mountains of Switzerland. In skeleton, participants have to drive a one-person sleigh in a prone. The sleigh used in the event was a stripped-down sleigh. The sleigh was in reality a bare frame, which had similarity with a skeleton. From this structure of the sleigh, the event has been named "skeleton". The Federation Internationale de Bobsleigh et Tobogganing or the FIBT is authorized to supervise the sport at international level.

Skeleton in the Winter Games: Before the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games, skeleton was included in the schedule only twice at the 1928 and the 1948 Games. Since the 2002 Games, the event has been held regularly at the Olympics. The sport is contested in a single day.

Currently the events included in the skeleton program are-

• Men's individual event
• Women's individual event

Rules of Skeleton: The Federation Internationale de Bobsleigh et Tobogganing or the FIBT sets rules, which are followed during the international skeleton competitions. Some of the rules are-

• The skeleton track has to be similar to the bobsleigh track, with a minimum length of 1200 meter.
• The participants are not allowed to use any illegal drug to increase their power during the competitions.
• All the equipments used during the skeleton competition have to meet the FIBT standard set for the equipments.
• Violation of any rule set by the organization can lead to disqualification from the competition.
• The skeleton tracks should be made as per the rule-book of the FIBT.
• The skeleton race must begin with a running push, after which the participant should dive onto the sleigh.
• During the race, the competitors have to remain in a position facing downhill, with theirs hands at their sides.
• The participants are not permitted to use any other means to propel the sleigh, than the movements of their bodies.

Medal winners in Skeleton: Gregor Stahli, Jeff Pain, Martin Rettl, Duff Gibson, Jimmy Shea, Tristan Gale, Maya Pedersen-Bieri, Shelley Rudman, Alex Coomber and Mellisa Hollingsworth-Richards are some of the leading names in the international stage of skeleton.