When people heard the word skeleton, most would relate the word with the human body's internal framework. In sport, skeleton means a winter sliding sport on a frozen track when a person rides a small sled, also known as a skeleton bobsled or bobsleigh.
In academic terms, "skeleton racing involves plummeting head-first down a steep and treacherous ice track on a tiny sled," wrote on the Olympic website, adding that skeleton is considered "the world's first sliding sport."
The ongoing 2021 International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) World Championships is held in Altenberg, Germany from February 5 to 14.
The event was initially scheduled to take place at Lake Placid Olympic Sports Complex in New York, U.S., but it has been moved to Altenberg due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Athletes are competing in two major disciplines – bobsleigh and skeleton, including events in men's, women's and teams' competitions.
The race on Friday was a women's skeleton competition as Tina Hermann of Germany crowned the event with a time of 3:52.97, ahead of second-finished Jacqueline Loelling of Germany and third-finished Elena Nikitina of Russia.
Amazing moments of women's skeleton competition
Tina Hermann of Germany competes during the IBSF World Championships women's skeleton competition in Altenberg, Germany, February 12, 2021. /CFP
Yulia Kanakina of Russia Tina Hermann of Germany competes during the IBSF World Championships women's skeleton competition in Altenberg, Germany, February 12, 2021. /CFP
Kim Meylemans of Belgium competes during the IBSF World Championships women's skeleton competition in Altenberg, Germany, February 12, 2021. /CFP
Elena Nikitina of Russia reacts after her fourth run during the IBSF World Championships women's skeleton competition in Altenberg, Germany, February 12, 2021. /CFP
Alina Tararychenkova of Russia competes during the IBSF World Championships women's skeleton competition in Altenberg, Germany, February 12, 2021. /CFP
Hannah Neise of Germany prepares to start her run during the IBSF World Championships women's skeleton competition in Altenberg, Germany, February 12, 2021. /CFP
Sophia Griebel of Germany stretches out her legs before hops on her skeleton bobsled during the IBSF World Championships women's skeleton competition in Altenberg, Germany, February 12, 2021. /CFP
Sophia Griebel of Germany manages to lie her stomach on the skeleton bobsled during the IBSF World Championships women's skeleton competition in Altenberg, Germany, February 12, 2021. /CFP
Tina Hermann of Germany raises her right arm to celebrate her run during the IBSF World Championships women's skeleton competition in Altenberg, Germany, February 12, 2021. /CFP
Jacqueline Loelling of Germany rests on her bobsled after her run during the IBSF World Championships women's skeleton competition in Altenberg, Germany, February 12, 2021. /CFP
Silver medalist Jacqueline Loelling (L) of Germany hands over the trophy to gold medalist Tina Hermann of Germany on the podium of the IBSF World Championships women's skeleton competition in Altenberg, Germany, February 12, 2021. /CFP
(L-R) Silver medalist Jacqueline Loelling of Germany, gold medalist Tina Hermann of Germany, and bronze medalist Elena Nikitina of Russia celebrate on the podium of the IBSF World Championships women's skeleton competition in Altenberg, Germany, February 12, 2021. /CFP