History

Both the luge and the skeleton are similar to toboggans. Despite its name, the skeleton is almost twice as heavy as the luge, nearly 100 pounds for a singles sled compared to just over 50 pounds for a singles luge.

In luge, the slider goes down the run feet first, steering with the legs and shoulders. In skeleton, the slider goes down head first and steers mainly by dragging the feet.

Luge competition entered the Olympics in 1964. There is no women's doubles competition, but women have been allowed to enter the men's doubles event since 1992, although none have done so.

Skeleton was on the Winter Olympic program at St. Moritz, Switzerland, in 1928 and 1948. St. Moritz is the home of the famous Cresta Run, where competitive tobogganing and bobsledding were born.

After a long hiatus, skeleton returned to the Olympic program in 2002, with competition for both men and women.