Skeleton offers a high‑adrenaline blend of speed, precision, and sheer courage as athletes hurtle head‑first toward victory. Athletes race down an ice track lying on a small, flat sled, with their face just inches from the track's surface. Steering is accomplished by slight movements of the head, torso and legs, with athletes shifting their weight to match the contours of the track. Originally featured in St. Moritz in 1928 and 1948, skeleton returned permanently with both men’s and women’s events, at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games.

New for the 2026 Winter Olympics is a mixed team event, which pairs one man and one woman athlete from the same National Olympic Committee (NOC) in a relay-style competition. Each athlete completes a run on the track, with the combined times determining the winning team. This event provides a unique opportunity for nations to showcase gender inclusivity and team strategy, creating a more dynamic and competitive aspect to the sport.

In Olympic competition, both men’s and women’s events consist of four timed runs (two per day over two consecutive days), measured electronically to the hundredth of a second, with the total aggregate time determining final standings. In earlier Games such as Salt Lake City and Torino, only two runs were used. In the case of a tie, tied athletes receive the same placement.

Start order for each heat is determined by IBSF world ranking, with the top-ranked athletes choosing preferred start positions. Subsequent heats order athletes based on prior performance (e.g. reversed order for the final heat). 

Athletes push off at the start and must remain on the sled through the finish line for their time to count.

Athletes rely on specialized, streamlined gear built to strict IBSF guidelines:

• A sleek, steel-framed sled with a carbon fiber base plate, no steering or braking mechanisms, dimensions and maximum weights regulated.  For men, the sled can weigh no more than 45 kg (99 lbs) on its own, and the combined weight with the athlete and gear cannot exceed 120 kg (265 lbs). For women, the limits are 38 kg (84 lbs) and 102 kg (225 lbs). Sleds must be between 800mm (31.5 inches) and 1200 mm (47 inches) in length, and 80mm (3 inches) to 200 mm (7.8 inches) in height. Additional ballast may be added to the sled (not the athlete) if total weight is under limit.
• An aerodynamic helmet with a chin guard, goggles or face shield
• A skin-tight speed suit
• Spiked shoes for the push start
• Optional elbow or shoulder pads beneath the suit for protection

All skeleton events at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics are scheduled to occur at the Cortina Sliding Centre in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, in the Dolomite Mountains. The venue features a 1,730m track (nearly the length of 19 football fields) with 16 curves, built to modern IBSF safety and design standards. The track is named after Italian bobsled legend, Eugenio Monti.

In spring 2025, the sliding center passed its pre‑homologation testing, with 60 athletes from 12 countries confirming compliance with international standards. The facility is expected to fully be completed by November 2025

The skeleton competition begins with the men's individual event on Thursday, Feb. 12 and wraps up with the mixed team event on Sunday, Feb. 15. Stay tuned on the NBC Olympics schedule page for updates.

Team USA’s skeleton program enters the Games with growing confidence and real medal aspirations in a sport defined by razor-thin margins. Skeleton races are decided over four runs, often separated by hundredths of a second, with explosive starts and precision driving critical to success.

On the women’s side, Mystique Ro has emerged as the standard-bearer for the U.S., finishing the past World Cup season with multiple podiums and establishing herself as a regular threat against Europe’s top sliders. Her powerful starts and improved consistency have positioned her firmly in the Olympic medal conversation. Behind her, Kelly Curtis has shown flashes of potential, most recently claiming the silver medal at the St. Moritz World Cup.

In men’s skeleton, Austin Florian leads the American contingent after a breakthrough season that included podium finishes and career-best World Cup results. He is joined by Dan Barefoot, who brings Olympic experience and proven top-ten potential on the World Cup circuit. 

The mixed team skeleton event will make its Olympic debut in Milan Cortina. The United States has been one of the most consistent programs in the format over the past two seasons, with Ro and Florian regularly paired together on the IBSF World Cup circuit. The duo has finished on the podium multiple times and captured a world championship title in the mixed team event, establishing themselves as one of the discipline’s most reliable pairings.