Overview

In a sport which has been in and out of the Winter Olympic Games since its inception at Saint Moritz 1928, Australian athletes have competed at every edition since Australia’s debut at Torino 2006. Michelle Steele and Shaun Boyle were the first to represent Australia in Skeleton at the Olympics.

Jackie is competing at her second Winter Olympic Games and Nick makes his Olympic debut.

The Skeleton program takes place from Thursday 10th February to Saturday 12th February. Australian fans will be keeping an eye out for the men’s heats featuring Nick Timmings on the Thursday 10th February and Jackie Narracott in the women’s heats the following day.

What’s the story?

• Just 28 days before the women's Skeleton was set to begin in Beijing, Jackie Narracott won Australia's first ever World Cup gold medal in the sport.
• Skeleton will be held at the Yanqing Sliding Centre, which will also host the Bobsleigh and Luge.
• The track will feature a full 360-degree turn, the first time a kreisel has been an Olympic track feature since the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics.
• The last three Olympic champion in the men’s competition have all represented that Games’ host nation – China will be looking to continue that trend.

Ones to watch:

The Aussies

Jackie Narracott successfully followed in her uncle Paul’s footsteps when she made her Winter Olympic debut at PyeongChang 2018, finishing in 17th place. Paul Narracott was Australia’s first ever athlete to compete at both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games. With a best World Championship finish of 16th place in 2015 and multiple World Cup finishes inside the top 10, headlined by her stunning victory in St Moritz just a month out from the Beijing Games, Jackie will be looking to use her Olympic experience from PyeongChang to earn Australia’s best Olympic skeleton finish.

Nick Timmings, the 31-year-old from Perth, will be making his Winter Olympic debut in Beijing 2022 off the back of career-best performances leading up to the Games. With two individual wins and the overall points title in the North America’s Cup, Nick ended his calendar year in style with his best World Cup finish to date - finishing in 19th place in Altenberg, Germany. Nick will be going to Beijing looking to beat Australia’s previous best result in the men’s Skeleton event, achieved by John Farrow who finished 17th at Sochi 2014.

The competition

Martins Dukurs (LAT), a six-time world champion and dual Olympic silver medallist, brings an incredible wealth of experience into Beijing. With ‘Superman’ having finished fourth in PyeongChang, the owner of the most World Cup titles in skeleton history will be looking to add the Olympic title to his already full medal cabinet.

The last three women’s Olympic skeleton champions have all represented Great Britain, headlined by the greatest Olympic skeleton athlete of all-time, Lizzy Yarnold. Despite Yarnold’s retirement, PyeongChang bronze medallist Laura Deas (GBR) will be looking to improve her position from four years ago and continue Team GB’s stranglehold on the women’s event.

Yun Sung-Bin (KOR) is the reigning men’s skeleton Olympic champion from PyeongChang and wants to add a second Olympic gold medal to his name at his third Winter Games. Although his form was shaky in 2021, finishing 17th at the World Championships in Altenberg, Germany, his Olympic experience will be incredibly valuable on his quest for more history.

Jacqueline Loelling (GER), the reigning Olympic silver medallist, is coming off a second-place finish at the 2021 World Championships. Loelling will be joined in the competition by four-time world champion and countrywoman Tina Hermann, with both women vying for their first Olympic title.

Christopher Grotheer (GER) career has taken off since PyeongChang 2018 to where he is now a two-time reigning world champion. The 29-year-old will want to improve on his 8th place finish at his Winter Olympic debut four years ago. Can he bring his World Championship form to Beijing 2022?

Competition format

The men’s and women’s events will consist of four timed heats, held over two consecutive days. Medals will be awarded to the quickest overall combined times.