Skeleton first debuted at the Olympics in 1928, then was played again in 1948. Both of these games were held in St. Moritz, Switzerland, the birthplace of skeleton. It wasn't played as an Olympic sport again until 2002. It is the oldest known sledding sport.

Skeleton is an individual sport for both men and women. Competitors drive a sled in the head-first position down an ice track. It is different from luge in that the athletes are not feet-first.

Another name for skeleton is tobogganing. The name skeleton comes from the sled which was originally a bare frame.

The format consists of two timed runs. The rider is allowed to get off the sled to push or move it, but he must be in the head-first position as he crosses the finish line. The runners of the sled must be within 4° of the runner exposed to open air for an hour previous to the race. This is to ensure that the sled's metal runners have not been warmed to improve sliding on the ice track.