How does the skeleton mixed team work?
I · Intermediate · The race · 1 of 1In the skeleton mixed team, one woman and one man from the same nation each slide one heat, and their times are added. The woman slides first. Teams start in order of the pair's combined ranking points, lowest first, with the woman's ranking settling ties. A bobsleigh and skeleton mixed team event also exists.
How it works
- Team: one female and one male athlete from the same nation.
- Heats: each athlete slides one heat.
- Order within the team: woman first, then man.
- Team order: by combined ranking points, lowest first.
- Ties: the woman's better ranking decides.
- Ranking lists: the mixed team is not part of the individual ranking lists.
- Measuring devices: those needed for the mixed team are allowed.
- Combined event: a bobsleigh and skeleton mixed team is also listed.
The glossary has the skeleton mixed team, the team relay, the total time, the start ranking, the skeleton and the quota.
Tricky cases
Who slides first in a mixed team?
The woman.
How is the start order set?
By the pair's combined ranking points, lowest first.
Do mixed team results count for individual rankings?
No. The mixed team is kept out of the individual ranking lists.
Can a nation enter two women?
No. A team is one woman and one man.
Why the rule exists
A mixed event gives men and women a shared medal and adds a team element to a solo sport. Sending the woman first fixes the order for every team.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Mixed team | One heat each | IBSF 10.6.1 |
| Start order | Combined points | IBSF 10.6.3 |
| Bobsleigh/skeleton | A further mixed event | IBSF 2.3.2 |
From the rule book
IBSF, International Rules Skeleton (September 2026), articles 2.3, 10.6.1 to 10.6.3, 10.15 and 11. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the IBSF International Rules, issued each season.