Olympic luge — often called the "fastest sport on ice" — is a timed race, in which athletes steer down a specially designed ice track at speeds that can exceed 145km/h (90 miles per hour), lying on their backs on a small sled with their feet pointed forward. Racers steer not with handlebars or brakes, but by subtly shifting their body weight and pressing against the sled’s runners using their calves and shoulders. This allows them to navigate high-speed turns with astonishing precision.

The race begins at the start house, where competitors grip two handles and rock back and forth to generate momentum. They then explode forward, paddling against the ice with spiked gloves, maximizing their initial velocity before dropping into an aerodynamic, supine position on the sled. From there, gravity takes over. Every thousandth of a second counts, and even the smallest error, a minor skid or awkward line through a curve, can be costly.

There are five luge events contested at the Winter Olympic Games, each testing different dynamics of the sport.

Singles

Men’s and women’s singles each consist of four runs over two days, with times combined to determine the winner, emphasizing consistency and endurance. Men start higher on the track compared to women, with course lengths of approximately 1,344 m (1,470 yards) for men and 1,201 m (1,313 yards) for women and doubles.

Doubles

Men's and women's doubles take place over two runs in a single day. Athletes lie on the same sled to complete their two allotted runs.

Team Relay

The team relay event, introduced to the Olympic luge program at Sochi 2014, has since become a regular feature at the Games. Each team consists of four sleds from the same nation — one women’s singles, one men’s doubles, one men’s singles, and one women’s doubles. The event unfolds as a continuous sequence: each sled starts from the same height in that order, with the start gate opening with audible and visual signals. At the finish, an athlete from each sled must strike a touch-sensitive pad by hand, triggering the start gate for the next teammate without stopping the clock. The team’s total time is recorded only when an athlete from the final sled hits the final pad; if any sled fails to activate the pad, the team is disqualified.

All runs electronically are measured down to the thousandth of a second, reflecting the sport’s razor-thin margins. A run officially begins the moment any part of the sled or athlete breaks a beam at the start gate, and ends when the entire sled crosses the finish line.

For singles events, each athlete completes four runs over two days. Their cumulative time determines their final ranking, with the lowest total time taking gold. Doubles competitors race two heats in a single day, also determined by cumulative time. In the team relay, the total time across all three legs of the race determines the team’s placement.

Olympic luge qualification is overseen by the International Luge Federation (FIL) and is based on performance across a designated World Cup qualification period. Typically, this qualification season takes place in the winter leading up to the Olympic Games. Athletes earn points based on their performance in these races, and these rankings determine how many quota spots each country earns.

Once quota spots are secured, each country’s Olympic committee selects which athletes will fill them — often based on internal rankings, trials, or cumulative World Cup performance. Nations with strong programs, such as Germany, Austria, and Italy, routinely qualify the maximum number of sleds: three men, three women, two doubles teams, and one team relay. Smaller luge programs only may qualify one athlete in each event. The system is designed to ensure only the top sliders in the world reach the Olympic stage, while still allowing for broad international representation.

Luge is governed by an extensive set of international regulations set by the International Luge Federation (FIL), designed to ensure fair play, safety, and consistency. Sled weight carefully is controlled: for singles events, sleds must weigh between 21kg and 25kg (46lbs to 55lbs), and for doubles, between 25kg and 30kg (55lbs and 66lbs). Athletes are weighed with and without their gear, and lighter competitors are allowed to add precise amounts of ballast weight to meet the standards. The runners are checked before every competition to ensure they haven't been heated — warmed steels glide faster, which would be an unfair advantage. Officials also inspect dimensions, sled alignment, spike size on gloves, and the material of the race suit. Every component must conform to precise standards, and noncompliance can lead to disqualification. 

During the competition, athletes must follow a clearly defined start procedure. This includes gripping the start handles, rocking to build momentum, and pushing off using the ice spikes on their gloves. Once the sled is in motion, the athlete must stay in the prone position on their back for the entire run. Any attempt to sit up, use hands to steer, or deviate from the defined posture can result in penalties or disqualification.

Post-race inspections of medal contenders especially are rigorous. These regulations help maintain a level playing field, vital for a sport where thousandths of a second can decide Olympic medals.

Though rare due to the sport’s extremely precise timing system, ties in luge are not impossible. When they do occur, the athletes or teams involved are awarded the same placement. For instance, if two sliders finish with identical total times down to the thousandth of a second, both are awarded silver, and the bronze medal is not awarded. This occurred in the men’s doubles event at the 1972 Sapporo Winter Games, when East Germany and Italy shared the gold medal.

The high-tech timing systems and the cumulative format of Olympic luge make ties a statistical anomaly, but the sport’s governing bodies are prepared for them when they happen.

Track conditions can make or break a luge run. Ice temperature, humidity, and even the amount of traffic on the track throughout the day dramatically can affect performance. Colder, harder ice typically yields faster runs by reducing friction, while softer or rutted ice, which is more common later in the day or during warmer weather, can slow sleds down. This is why the start order is crucial.

Track familiarity also is a significant advantage. Some nations, especially those hosting international World Cup events, have more access to practice runs and can better prepare their athletes for the intricacies of each course. With speeds reaching over 145km/h (90 miles per hour), even minor differences in ice texture, curve transitions, or lighting can shape the outcome of a race.