Olympics
Brains
The Winter Olympic Games were first held in 1924 in Chamonix, France. At its inception, there were only 16 medal events; fast forward to the Milano Cortina 2026 Games, and there will be a record 116 medal events.
The events of the Winter Olympic Games range from the elegance of figure skating to the high-stakes adrenaline of events such as skeleton and downhill Skiing. Whether competitors brave vertical drops of the alpine slopes or the claustrophobic, icy chutes of the sliding track, these competitors turn these already dangerous tracks into the fastest arenas on Earth.
In these events, the difference between gold and a catastrophic crash is extremely minute and at speeds that would earn a speeding ticket on most roadways. Here are the nine fastest events at the Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina this February.
#9: Speed Skating (Long Track) – Top Speed: ~58 mph
Unlike most sports with both short- and long-track disciplines, the highest speeds in this sport are achieved by the distance athletes. Originating in the Netherlands as early as the 13th century, speed skating is one of the six sports to appear at every Olympic Winter Games. With a rare blend of speed and strategy, this sport highlights the discipline of athletes while competing on one of the hardest and most unforgiving surfaces in sports.
Wearing skin-tight racing suits and specialized, razor-sharp blades, these athletes compete head-to-head against the clock, reaching speeds of 58 mph. What makes this feat of speed so impressive is that it is done without the assistance of gravity, instead relying on the long, powerful strides of the athletes.
Tied #7: Snowboard Cross -Top Speed: ~60 mph
The thrilling, multi-rider sport of snowboard cross features a varied course with jumps, banked turns, and rollers. This sport tests the speed, control, and quick tactics as snowboarders compete head-to-head for the best times. While having to navigate through crashes and course obstacles, these athletes push their bodies to the limit with high speeds of up to 60 mph.
With every racer competing to get the edge off the start to attain the lead on the racing line, crashes are inevitable and at high speeds. This sport also produced one of the more memorable and heartbreaking finishes in recent history when female snowboarder Lindsey Jacobellis was leading the event’s final at the 2006 Turin Olympics and attempted a method air on the second-to-last jump, caught an edge, and fell. She lost gold to Tanja Frieden and ultimately lost the final.
Tied #7: Freestyle Ski Cross-Top Speed: ~60 mph
Tied as the seventh fastest sport at the Winter Olympic Games is freestyle ski cross. Similar to the sport it tied the seventh spot with, Freestyle Ski Cross is a fast and furious sport on snow. Unlike snowboard cross, the athletes have ski poles to aid in an ultra-fast start on flat terrain and to aid in their acceleration along the typically 1-km course.
In a moment of distraction, the racers reaching speeds of 60 mph risk losing the racing line or a devastating crash. With aerodynamics coming into play, racers compete in a deep tuck while trailing the athletes in the lead, looking for a slipstream to increase speed. With a margin of error being very slight, freestyle ski Cross is one of the most entertaining high-speed sports at the Winter Olympics.
#6: Snowboarding Parallel Giant Slalom -Top Speed: ~70 mph
Sticking to the snow, snowboard parallel giant slalom ranks as the sixth fastest sport competing at the Winter Olympic Games this February. In this sport, two riders navigate identical, side-by-side courses in a knockout bracket, aiming for the fastest combined time. Reminiscent of the giant slalom course scene in Alpine skiing, this is an event mixing technicality and pure speed.
Reaching speeds of 70 mph, racers balance the need for speed while ensuring they navigate the series of gates staggered throughout the course. Snowboarding Parallel Giant Slalom, as well as all snowboarding events at these Olympics, will be at the Livigno Snow Park. What is unique about this venue is the design that allows five different competition areas to converge into a single finish zone.
#5: Skeleton – Top Speed: ~84 mph
For the 5th fastest Winter Olympic event, we temporarily leave the alpine slopes in favor of the icy chutes of the sled track. Skeleton, or the #1 sport to not try at home, is where athletes ride a small sled headfirst, lying face down, shifting their body weight to steer, reaching speeds of up to 84 mph. This sport is so extreme that experiencing extreme 5-forces, up to 5G, is not uncommon but instead an accepted norm.
Needless to say, the inherent danger of skeleton is both terrifying and awe-inspiring appointment television during the Olympics. In recent years, the U.S. skeleton team has leveraged athletes from track and field and transitioned them to the sport. One such athlete who did this very transition is Kelly Curtis. Curtis made history at the last Winter Olympic Games as the first Black athlete to compete for Team USA in skeleton. Be sure to catch her this February, tearing down the path.
#4: Alpine Skiing – Super-G – Top Speed: ~90 mph
Debuting at the 1988 Winter Olympic Games is the alpine skiing discipline of Super-G. Reaching speeds as high as 90 mph and combining the technical turns of giant slalom and the high speeds of downhill, Super-G is not for the faint of heart. This event also ratchets up the stakes by allowing the skiers only one inspection run to memorize the course and conditions before racing.
This year’s men’s and women’s Olympic Super-G events will be held at separate locations, with the former being at Stelvio Ski Centre in Bormio, while the former take place at Tofane Alpine Skiing Center in Cortina d’Ampezzo. With Lindsey Vonn qualifying for her 5th and final Winter Olympic Games, hopes are for a Gold as she rounds into form at the right time. As she seeks to add to her three Olympic medals, her comeback at the age of 41 is one of the most anticipated storylines of these Games.
#3: Bobsled (4-Man) – Top Speed: ~93 mph
Bobsled may be well-known and forever enshrined due to the Disney motion picture Cool Runnings, but this sport comes in as the third fastest Winter Olympic Event. Aiming for the fastest time, teams sprint, pushing at the start to gain initial speed before speeding down the icy track at speeds reaching 93 mph. In this sport, teamwork is essential as all four racers must work in concert to avoid a catastrophic crash while maintaining breakneck speed.
The team dynamic behind this sport relies on specific attributes for each position in the sled. The pilot, or driver who steers using ropes, needs precise timing and finesse to steer subtly at high speeds. After the pilot hops in the sled, the second racer, who is directly behind the driver at the start, is a pusher who is generally the strongest in order to build up speed. The third racer and the only person on the right side of the sled is a pusher who is generally the fastest and most well-rounded of the crew. The last racer who lines up directly behind the sled, is the brakeman who applies the brakes to slow the sled down after the finish line.
#2: Luge: Top Speed: ~96 mph
Luge, or as it is often called, “the fastest sport on ice,” reaches speeds up to 96 mph on a sled with no brakes. While the racers lie on their back, face up, they steer using subtle body movements and torso pressure to navigate the turns. The athletes in this sport, much like skeleton, endure significant G-forces, up to 6G’s on curves, that require intense focus while challenging their reflexes and balance.
Tracing its roots back to the 16th century in Switzerland, luge made its Olympic debut in the 1964 Innsbruck Olympic Winter Games. In 2014, at the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, the team relay was introduced. This team relay involves four events: the women’s luger goes first, hits a touchpad at the bottom of the track; once the touchpad is hit, the gate for the men’s single opens. The doubles teams are the last to compete. After all four crews have crossed the finish line, the team with the fastest cumulative time wins.
#1: Alpine Skiing – Downhill – Top Speed: ~100.6 mph
The fastest Winter Olympic event belongs to the alpine skiing discipline of downhill. Focusing on pure speed and technique while navigating a long, steep course marked by gates, the fastest recorded speed in a downhill event is 100.6 mph, set by Johan Clarey. Without a doubt, this long, challenging discipline requires significant courage to compete in and is not for the faint of heart.
The favorite for alpine skiing at these Winter Olympic Games is Marco Odermatt of Switzerland, who is ranked number 1 in the world across all disciplines. Despite being the favorite, the margin of error in this sport requires a near-perfect execution of a run to bring home gold. Downhill is a key part of the Olympic Winter Games each year, which truly tests the physical fitness and mental toughness of skiers.
As all eyes turn toward the Italian Alps in February, these nine events stand as a testament to the limits of human courage. The amount of preparation, time, and training these athletes dedicate to their sport stands as a beacon to what is possible to achieve. When the difference between a gold medal and a “DNF” is balancing on the edge of a razor, speed isn’t just a statistic; it is everything at the Winter Olympic Games.
