Bobsleigh & Skeleton

About Bobsleigh & Skeleton

Bobsleigh and skeleton are two distinct disciplines contested on the same ice-covered, banked track, both governed internationally by the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation. Ireland has competed in both.

Bobsleigh (the sled discipline)

Crews of two or four push a sled to build speed before steering it down the track, with the fastest combined time over several runs deciding the medals. Bobsleigh was the discipline in which Ireland made its Winter Olympic debut at Albertville 1992, and it has remained part of the Irish Winter team across several subsequent Games.

Skeleton

Skeleton is raced head-first, lying face down on a small sled, with athletes steering purely through subtle shifts of the head and shoulders at high speed. The discipline has produced Ireland's best Winter Olympic result to date, courtesy of Clifton Wrottesley, who finished fourth at Salt Lake City 2002.