<Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> <Ul> <Li> Medalists </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Ul> <Li> Medalists </Li> </Ul> <P> Skeleton is a winter sport featured in the Winter Olympics where the competitor rides head - first and prone (lying face down) on a flat sled . It is normally run on an ice track that allows the sled to gain speed by gravity . It was first contested at the 1928 Winter Olympics in St. Moritz and again in 1948 Winter Olympics, after which it was discontinued as an Olympic sport . Skeleton was reintroduced at the 2002 Winter Olympics, with both men's and women's events, and has been held in each Winter Olympic competition since . Skeleton is so - named as the first metal sleds introduced in 1892 were said to resemble a human skeleton . </P> <P> The sport is similar to, but not to be confused with, luge, another form of sled racing where the competitor rides on the back and feet - first . Often using the same courses, the racing physics are not identical . </P>

When did the skeleton become an event in the olympics