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Katie Uhlaender, a five-time Team USA Olympian, was about to compete in her sixth Winter Games. But then a decision from Team Canada canceled everything.
While attempting to qualify at the North American Skeleton Cup in Lake Placid, New York, earlier this month, Canada withdrew four of its athletes from competition. The withdrawal reduced the total number of points the competition could award, making it impossible for Uhlaender to earn enough to qualify for the Olympics.
Four Canadian female skeleton athletes were withdrawn just before the competition. According to the rules of the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF), only 75% of points were awarded, mathematically eliminating Milan-Cortina’s Uhlaender before the first round even began.
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Katie Uhlaender of the United States competes in the women’s skeleton event at the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at the Olympic Sliding Center in Pyeongchang, South Korea, February 17, 2018. (James Lang/USA Today Sports)
One of the Canadian athletes said coaches said the reason for the withdrawal was due to “best interest in how the points worked.”
“They came to us and explained that it would be in the best interest of the way the points worked out for Jane, so that we as a team could qualify two spots for the Olympics,” Canadian skeleton racer Madeline Parra told The Canadian Press.
Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton (BCS) said the decision to remove the athletes was made “after a careful assessment of the needs of the program and in consultation with the IBSF” and “careful consideration of the health, safety and long-term development of the athletes.”
“It was determined that continuing to run these athletes was not in their best interest, nor in the best interest of the program,” he added.
For Uhlaender, at 41, the result was difficult to swallow, but she also feels compassion for all the other competitors affected. So now she’s fighting back.
“It hurt all of us,” Uhlaender told PK Press Club Digital. “So when I turned around and looked at these young women, because I’m a senior, I’ve been to five Olympics, this would be my sixth.
“So some of these girls are trying to make their first, and they’re young… so I thought it was my duty as a U.S. Olympian and as someone who believes in doing the right thing, to say something.”
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Katie Uhlaender of the United States reacts after the second run of the women’s skeleton round two during the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics at the Olympic Sliding Center in Pyeongchang, South Korea, February 16, 2018. (Mark Ralston/AFP via Getty Images)
Uhlaender pressured the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) to submit a letter to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), requesting an additional Olympic berth for her. PK Press Club Digital obtained a copy of the letter.
“These actions circumvented the principles of Olympic qualification, undermined fair competition and ultimately deprived Ms. Uhlaender of the opportunity to participate in the XXV Winter Games in Milan-Cortina,” said the letter, signed by Rocky Harris, USOPC Chief of Sports and Athlete Services.
“It is undeniable that Ms. Uhlaender deserves to go to the Olympic Games.”
Uhlaender has already filed an appeal with the IBS and claims he had to pay a $5,000 fee to do so.
The IBSF Interim Integrity Unit has investigated allegations of competition manipulation. He acknowledged that there were concerns about withdrawals, but concluded that the governing rules allowed teams to withdraw athletes at any time. Because the settlement contains no penalties or guarantees for late withdrawals that change the point distribution, the IIU dismissed the complaint.
But Uhlaender did not back down, promising to further challenge the decision and even rallying international support to his cause.
Teams from Belgium, South Korea, the Virgin Islands, Malta, Israel and Denmark all lent their support to Uhlaender’s efforts, sending letters of support to the USOPC in an attempt to have the event further investigated.
“My Danish friends and I haven’t talked about Greenland once,” Uhlaender joked.
Uhlaender even said that some Canadian athletes privately supported her in this battle.
She does not rule out taking the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) until it is resolved.
Vice President JD Vance will lead the US presidential delegation to the Milan-Cortina Olympics next month. Uhlaender hopes that the vice-president will advocate for her participation.
“As U.S. Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to meet with leaders of the International Olympic Committee, I respectfully ask him to stand with me as an Olympian who has represented the United States of America and our values, the USOPC and the many nations involved in supporting our request that IOC President Kirsty Coventry use her authority to maintain fairness in Olympic sport by granting a wildcard,” Uhlaender said.
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American Katie Uhlaender poses for a portrait during Team USA’s Beijing 2022 Olympics filming in Irvine, California, September 12, 2021. (Tom Pennington/Getty Images for Team USA)
“Doing so would protect the integrity of competition and prevent further damage. Such action would send a powerful message to young athletes around the world that upholding ethics and integrity can be difficult, but it matters.”
PK Press Club Digital has contacted BCS and IBSF for a response.
