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What were the results of the 2006 Olympics?

Here are the results. Canada, which will host the 2010 Winter Olympics, was the big winner with three medalists.

Am I too old to be an aspiring Olympic slider?

You're never too old to slide, although most elite athletes peak between their mid 20's to mid 30's, after several years of experience. But there are some "old guys" like Duff Gibson of Canada, who won the 2006 Olympic gold medal at age 39.

How much does an elite athlete have to spend?

A lot!

While a beginner can buy a basic secondhand sled for $500 to $2,000 (US dollars), a serious athlete requires a sled (plus runners) that'll cost anywhere from $2,000 to $5,000! Not to mention the cost of a helmet, speedsuit (you can get a fancy one from Icebeams or Young Originals), spikes, and travel to various competitions. Due to such expenses, athletes tend to spend lots of time seeking sponsors or donors.

So, what does it take to do it well in competition?

Quick thinking and dexterity--you'll use your body to make subtle steering movements many times in a matter of seconds.

Other qualities include:

1) Sprinting Speed

A fast push start is important to a good performance. People who are good sprinters in the running world usually do well in push starts, but that's not always the case. Skeleton sprinting mechanics requires you to be hunched over while using one or both arms to push a sled weighing up to 95 lbs (43 kg).

2) High Body Weight

The physics of this sport dictate that heavier objects reach the finish line faster. This may be the only Olympic sport besides swimming where some body fat (to a point) is beneficial, although lean muscle mass is more effective. Take Duff Gibson, who weighs 100 kg (220 lbs). But small athletes can do well--2002 women's Gold medalist Tristan Gale weighs 49 kg (108 lbs).

What must I accomplish in order to become an Olympian?

Procedures vary by country, but here's the typical progression in the USA:

Novice Practice Slides -> Club Races -> Regional Championships -> National Time Trials -> America's Cup Team -> Europa Cup Team -> Intercontinental Cup Team -> World Cup Team -> Olympic Team

The field quickly shrinks with each step. While there may be a couple dozen competitors at each club race, only three men and three American women make the World Cup Team.

See the USBSF site for further information on recruiting procedures. Here's further info if you want to compete for Britain or Canada.

A reason why skeleton may appeal to aspiring Olympians is that it's one of the "easiest" Olympic sports to medal in. Well, certainly not easy, but far "less impossible" than for established sports like soccer or hockey. After all, if you become a competitive slider (even a lousy one), that ranks you in approximately the top 0.00001% of the world's population. This is especially true for women, considering the sport's fairly high ratio of male-to-female participants. In fact, a magazine article notes how Australia--in efforts to maximize their Olympic medal chances--has targeted its women skeleton program for extensive recruitment and development efforts (source: "Built to Win" New Scientist; 10/30/04). Here's another article (3/29/05; Australian Broadcast Corporation) on the dramatic improvement of the Aussie women's team. The program has been an unqualified success, culminating in 19-year old beach sprinter Michelle Steele's remarkable performance on the World Cup circuit and her Olympic qualification, despite being relatively new to the sport.

Many of the top athletes started this sport on a whim or through some serendipitous connection (such as coincidentally living near a track), which gives this sport some of its charm. But it's increasingly becoming as ultra-competitive as other Olympic sports, where countries invest great resources in recruiting and grooming full-time athletes from a very early age.

How else can I realize my Olympic dream?

You may increase your Olympic chances if you compete for another country with an undeveloped skeleton program. Using such indirect connections (such as birthplace of yourself or that of a parent) many athletes have done this. [source: "Skeleton: Heritage helps with berth" Detroit Free Press; 2/08/02].

Furthermore, if you (or your child) are eager to be an Olympian, but not necessarily fixated on skeleton, you may want to consider the related sport of luge. USA luge has a talent search sponsored by Verizon, which targets kids 11-14 years old.

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