2010 Winter Olympic Games: Skeleton Summary
After a 54 year absence from the Winter Olympic program, the sport of skeleton returned in 2002, with competition for both men and women. When first introduced in 1928, only men competed in the sport. In that year, Jenniston Heaton and Jack Heaton, of the United Stated, won the gold and silver medals, respectively. Skeleton disappeared from the Olympic program until 1948, when Jack Heaton defended the silver medal. Heaton remains the most decorated American Olympian in the sport.
Including the competition in 1928 and 1948, the United States has dominated this event, winning three gold medals and three silver medals, followed by Great Britain with one gold medal, one silver medal, and three bronze medals. The Canadians have won two gold medals, a silver medal, and a bronze medal. Switzerland has won one gold medal and two bronze medals; Germany has won one silver medal and one bronze medal; Italy has won a gold medal; Latvia has won a silver medal; and Austria and Russia each have won a bronze medal.
Men
First time Olympian, Jon Montgomery, of Canada, won the gold medal in the men's competition. His victory made it two in row for Canada, as countryman Duff Gibson won the gold medal in 2006. Martins Durkurs, of Latvia, who had finished in 7th place in 2006, captured the silver medal. Alexander Tretyakov, of Russia, who had finished in 15th place in 2006, claimed the bronze medal.
Gold - Jon Montgomery - Canada
Silver - Martins Durkurs - Latvia
Bronze - Alexander Tretyakov - Russia
Women
Another first time Olympian, Amy Williams, of Great Britain, won the gold medal in the women's competition. The only medal winning performance for Great Britain in Vancouver, her victory marked the first by an individual British Winter Olympian since 1980, when Brian Cousins won the gold medal in figure skating. Previously, British women had won the bronze medal in 2002 and the silver medal in 2006 in the skeleton. Kerstin Szymkowiak, of Germany, captured the silver medal, while her teammate, Anja Huber, garnered the bronze medal. Huber had finished in 8th place in 2006.
Gold - Amy Williams - Great Britain
Silver - Kerstin Szymkowiak - Germany
Bronze - Anja Huber - Germany
References:
Sports Reference LLC, Skeleton, Sports Reference/Olympic Sports Website
Sports Reference LLC, Skeleton Men's Skeleton Medalists, Sports Reference/Olympic Sports Website
Sports Reference LLC, Skeleton Women's Skeleton Medalists, Sports Reference/Olympic Sports Website
Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee, Skeleton, Vancouver 2010 Official Website
Published by Adam Hornbuckle
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