Skeleton

Skeleton is an Olympic sports' discipline, inwhich the athletes race at top speeds of up to 130 km/h, head first, down an ice canal on a special sled, the skeleton.

It originated in the famous resort area of St. Moritz, Switzerland. In 1887, the first slider dared to ride - lying head first - down the St. Moritz bob run.

Switzerland is internationally the front runner in skeleton. Maya Pedersen- Bieri won the 2006 Olympic gold medal, and Gregor Stähli became world champion last season. However, the federation will have to do without these two athletes in the coming season. Daniel Mächler, Jessica Kilian, Barbara Hosch, Pascal Oswald and Stefan Mörker make up the team responsible for Swiss success.