The Winter Olympic sport that sends athletes down an icy track in small sleds, feet first, is luge.
Luge competitors lie on their backs, or supine, on a narrow, flat sled and steer by subtle movements of their shoulders, legs and calves. They travel feet first through a refrigerated ice track, reaching high speeds while racing against the clock. The winner is the athlete or team with the fastest combined time.
Luge became an Olympic sport at Innsbruck 1964, when men’s singles, women’s singles and doubles were contested. The doubles event is officially open to any athletes, although it has historically been contested by men. Germany has been especially dominant in Olympic luge, winning a large share of the sport’s medals.
The body position separates luge from its closest Olympic neighbors. Skeleton racers lie face down and head first, while bobsleigh athletes ride inside a larger sled. Speed skaters, by contrast, race upright on blades without sleds.