Hurtling head first down the Sanki sliding center at speeds touching 120 kph, Olympic skeleton racers are a tough breed on the track and boast an artistic flourish off it.

Take a look at the designs on their helmets for proof: the patriotic, the nerdy and the absurd.

American 29-year-old Katie Uhlaender has opted for national pride with a bold depiction of the bald eagle, the US national emblem, with red and white stripes trailing away on her white helmet.