Skeleton is an Olympic racing event that resembles the bobsled and luge. Skeleton races take place on a track similar to a bobsled run and are feature one competitor on a small sled traveling speeds of up to 80 mph. The rules for skeleton are not particularly in-depth or complicated, but still are important for running the races fairly and competitively. International rules are set by the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation, or FIBT.
Clothing
The clothing for a skeleton race is pretty straightforward, consisting of a skintight suit with some shoes and a helmet, but there are some regulations to follow. You can't attach any device to the suit that would make it more aerodynamic, you cannot plasticize your suit, the upper spikes on your shoes can be no thicker than 1 mm and no longer than 4 mm, and spikes can't be any farther than 3 mm from one another.
The Track
The skeleton track must run a minimum of 1,200 meters. The tracks are kept artificially frozen and swept at regular intervals during races. Officials must sweep the starting area, the top 50 meters of the track, after each sled has gone through.
Athletes
Skeleton has doping rules just like all Olympic sports. Athletes are not permitted to ingest any substance that might increase their physical power. Stronger leg muscles result in faster starts and improved times. Athletes also must face downhill while they are on the sled, with hands by their sides. Only the athlete's body is allowed to project the sled toward the bottom, and he must run and jump on top of the sled to begin the race.
The Race
Skeleton races typically are run in heats of two or four. The order of the first heat usually is drawn, and subsequent heats are run based on the first heat finishers. All of the heats must be run with the same sled unless it is damaged beyond repair. Officials will check the runners on the sled prior to races to ensure that they have not been heated to gain speed.
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