Israel has won its first-ever medal in the winter sport of “skeleton” – a high-speed winter sliding sport that originated in Switzerland.

The win by athlete Bradley Chalpuski came this past weekend at the America’s Cup race in Lake Placid, New York.

“It’s an incredible honor to win a medal for an entire nation. I feel thankful, proud and amazing,” said Chalupski.

“Skeleton” is a fast winter sliding sport that originated in Switzerland, in which an individual rides a small sled down a frozen track while lying face down. Athletes, who use “sliders” on the same track as a bobsled and a luge, can experience a force up to 5-g – and they have no  steering or braking mechanism other than their own body weight.

David Greaves, secretary-general of the Israeli Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation, added in a statement on the federation’s website that as a former athlete member of the IBSF, he was dedicated as a volunteer to help in any way possible to assist young Jewish athletes hoping to represent Israel in the sport.

“If these great young athletes can take away even half of what I got out of my experience as an athlete, then all our work will be well worth it,” Greaves said. “Mazel tov, Brad!,” he added.