In the 2006 Winter Olympics, who or what is the “Skeleton”?
A) A high-speed, face-down, head-first sledding event ü B) Any member of the on-site physiotherapy staff C) Kurt Kreisler, a notoriously thin Alpine skier D) The slowest skier in the giant slalom
Skeleton, the oldest of the sledding sports, has struggled for recognition as an Olympic event, appearing on the program previously only in 1928, 1948 and 2002. Skeleton races are individually timed, with the participant lying flat on a sled and hurtling down the track face-first at speeds of up to 135 km/h (85 mph). A competitor who attempts to slow down during the race is disqualified. The sport developed in the Swiss resort town of St. Moritz in the late 1800s, and has been kept alive there even during its periods of obscurity. The name comes from the design of early metal sleds consisting of a bare frame.
