Skeleton is one of the fastest sports at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics. Here’s how the head-first sliding event works and who is competing for the U.S. (AP photo)

With the 2026 Winter Olympics underway, here's a guide on the high-speed sledding sports: luge, skeleton and bobsleigh.

Skeleton is the sledding sport at the Olympics that features the competitor facing head-first down the track. The competitor lies on their stomach, face down. It was a part of the 1928 and 1948 Winter Olympics, then didn't return until 2002. The sport of skeleton is named after the first metal sleds.

Here's a look at the differences between bobsled, luge and skeleton heading into the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics.

The bobsled, luge and skeleton are among the more popular Winter Olympics events, and while they have many similarities, there are key differences.

Learn how Olympic skeleton competition works — from the structure of heats and timing rules to how medal winners are determined across men’s and women’s events at the Winter Games of Milan Cortina 2026.

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 may slightly trail luge and bobsleigh in the sliding sport speed rankings but with its athletes' heads skimming only centimetres from a tunnel of ice, it creates a mix of fear and exhilaration that becomes an instant drug for many.

The 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Games continue with thrilling, must-see events. Here's what you can expect on primetime for Sunday, Feb. 8.