Winter Olympics: What is skeleton and how does it work? - Everything you need to know about Britain’s most successful winter sport

While at a glance Bobsled, Luge and Skeleton may appear similar, the three sliding events have distinct differences. (AP photo)

Here is everything to know about skeleton at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics, including competition preview, top athletes, how to watch and schedule.

Skeleton made its Olympic debut at the 1928 Winter Games in Switzerland and became a permanent event in 2002 during the Games in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Just days before the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics are set to begin, U.S. skeleton racer Katie Uhlaender is still fighting for a spot. The American is at the center of a controversy after the Canadian skeleton team made a decision at a recent race that ultimately cost her a sixth Olympic appearance.

Skeleton is an exhilarating Winter Olympic sport in which athletes race head-first down an ice track at speeds reaching over 80 miles per hour (130km/h). While the event can look basic at first glance,

The United States is the most successful skeleton nation in Winter Olympic history but with most of those medals now gathering dust, the arrival of the new mixed relay at Cortina is a timely opportunity to get back on the podium.

Great Britain have lost their appeal against a ban on new helmets they had hoped to use in the Olympic skeleton competition in Cortina next week.

As the Winter Olympics return, exhilarating speed-centric sports such as alpine skiing, luge and bobsleigh take the spotlight. But which is fastest? (AP photo)

U.S skeleton racer Katie Uhlaender denied Winter Olympic roster appeal due to date cut-off by CAS.