Skeleton (sport)

Skeleton (English = skeleton, skeleton ') is a sport in which the athletes travel at speeds up to 145 km / h on her stomach on a special sled down an icy corridor. The name of the carriage, and thus the sport derives from the fact that the vehicle is reminiscent of a steel skeleton. Although a skeleton sled at first glance resembles a racing sled the luge, the skeleton, part of the bobsleigh. For men and women Skeleton is a part of the Olympic sports.

Regulate

Skeleton competitions are held as an original discipline on the " Cresta Run" in St. Moritz and in a slightly modified form on bobsleigh tracks. The riders start in a standing position and jump for a short run on the sled. Driving is lying on his stomach.

The skeleton consists of a rigid laterally raised tub with grab handles and side impact bars front and rear. While the carriage structure is regulated quite open on the " Cresta Run", apply to the bobsled runs precise rules: The slide length is between 80 cm and 120 cm, and he also needs to have up to 20 cm a total height of 8 cm. The carriage must not exceed the maximum weight of 43 kg for men and 35 kg for women. The maximum allowable weight of sled and athlete is 115 kg (92 kg for women). If the athlete along with sled weighs more than 115 kg (92 kg for women), the carriage may weigh a maximum of 33 kg ( 29 kg for women).

The Skeleton driver (also called Skeletonis ) wearing a one-piece suit fabric, a lightweight helmet with chin protection and Skeleton shoes ( brush shoes, Bobschuhe ) with 7 -mm spikes (up to 8 mm).

History of sport

Its origin took the skeleton sport in the famous spa Davos and St. Moritz in Switzerland, where the sledding pleased with spa visitors great popularity. Built in 1884 a group of British for Major WH Bulpett a Eisrennbahn between St. Moritz and Celerina. For this company, a steep hillside above the hamlet of Celerina Cresta was chosen. On February 16, 1885, the first of the legendary Cresta race, the " Grand National " discharged. 1887 ventured the first driver to exit lying head first. Two Cresta riders have the " Grand National " ever won eight times: Nino Bibbia (Italy ) and Franco Gansser ( Switzerland ). This race is the world's oldest winter sports competition, which is still held. In the long tradition of the race, only very few locals Engadine were able to enter the list of winners: Emil Thoma Badrutt, Johannes Badrutt, Marcel Melcher, Nico Baracchi and Giancarlo Pitsch. From the Skeleton on the " Cresta Run", which was a predominantly elite circle reserved for the end of the 19th century, the Bobsleigh and nearly a century of the bobsleigh - skeleton later developed.

The Skeleton drivers are organized since 1923 with the Bobsportlern in the Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing ( FIBT ). Your German Association is the Bobsleigh and Luge Federation of Germany (BSD ), in this, the German luger are housed. The Association was founded under another name in 1911. Your Swiss Association is the SBSV.

Olympic history

Skeleton was, like the Bobs, explained by the IOC 1926 Olympic sport. The first - and for a long time, the last - Olympic Skeleton competitions were the drivers celebrate at the games in 1928 in St. Moritz. 20 years later, again at his birthplace St. Moritz Skeleton for men was again added to the program of the Olympic Winter Games in 1948, but again not retained. It took even longer this time until the rapid sport came back to Olympic honors. After 54 -year break Skeleton has the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City back part of the Olympic competitions. 2002 also the first time Olympic skeleton competition for women took place.

Competitions

  • Skeleton at the Olympic Games
  • Skeleton World Cup
  • Skeleton World Cup
  • Skeleton America's Cup
  • Skeleton Championship
  • Skeleton European Cup
1928 Winter Olympics Celerina/Schlarigna Kerstin Szymkowiak Amy Williams Anja Huber Skeleton at the Winter Olympics List of Olympic medalists in skeleton International Olympic Committee 1948 Winter Olympics
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