Luge at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics

Luge is the fastest sport on ice, with sleds reaching speeds up to 90 miles per hour. Athletes ride minimal sleds, protected mainly by helmets and razor-sharp reflexes, making the discipline one of the Winter Games' most daring. The term luge refers to a small sled; competitors race downhill on purpose-built ice tracks.

Races begin from a seated start, with athletes paddling the ice using spiked gloves to gain momentum before lying back and riding feet-first. Events include singles (one rider) and doubles (two riders on one sled); sleds are limited to 55 pounds for singles and 66 pounds for doubles.

Without handlebars or levers, racers steer by shifting their body position through turns and straightaways. Olympic luge tracks measure roughly 1,470 yards for the men's and doubles events and about 1,313 yards for the women's event. The 2026 program features five events: men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, women's doubles and a team relay.