NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
Five-time Team USA Olympian Katie Uhlaender was on track to make her sixth Winter Games. But then a decision from Team Canada took it all away.
With a shot at qualifying at the North American Skeleton Cup in Lake Placid, New York, earlier this month, Canada withdrew four of its athletes from the competition. The withdrawal shrank the total number of points the competition could award, making it impossible for Uhlaender to earn enough for Olympic qualification.
Four Canadian women’s skeleton athletes withdrew just before the competition. Under International Bobsled and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) rules, only 75% of points were issued, mathematically eliminating Uhlaender from Milano-Cortina before the first heat even began.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON Pakinomist
Katie Uhlaender of the United States competes in the women’s skeleton event at the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics at the Olympic Sliding Center in Pyeongchang, South Korea, on February 17, 2018. (James Lang/USA Today Sports)
One of the Canadian athletes said the coaches said the reason for the withdrawal was “in the best interest of how points had worked.”
“They had come over and explained to us that it would be in the best interest of the way points had worked for Jane so that we as a team can qualify two spots for the Olympics,” Canadian skeleton racer Madeline Parra told The Canadian Press.
Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton (BCS) said the decision to withdraw the athletes was made “after careful evaluation of the needs of the program and in consultation with the IBSF” and “careful consideration of the athletes’ health, safety and long-term development.”
“It was determined that it was not in their best interest to continue running these athletes, nor in the best interest of the program,” it added.
For Uhlaender, 41 years old, the result was hard to swallow, but she also feels for every other competitor affected. So now she’s fighting back.
“It hurt all of us,” Uhlaender told Pakinomist Digital. “So when I turned around and I looked at these young women because I’m a senior and 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 someone who believes in doing the right thing to speak up.”
US-BORN OLYMPIC FREESKIER EILEEN GU DODGES CITIZENSHIP QUESTIONS AFTER WINNING GOLD FOR CHINA
Katie Uhlaender of the United States reacts after the women’s skeleton heat two race during the Pyeongchang 2018 Olympic Winter Games at the Olympic Sliding Center in Pyeongchang, South Korea, on February 16, 2018. (Mark Ralston/AFP via Getty Images)
Uhlaender has lobbied the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) to send a letter to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) asking for an additional Olympic spot for her. Pakinomist Digital has obtained a copy of the letter.
“These actions circumvented Olympic qualification principles, undermined fair competition and ultimately deprived Ms. Uhlaender of the opportunity to compete in the XXV Milan-Cortina Winter Games,” said the letter, signed by USOPC Chief of Sport & Athlete Services Rocky Harris.
“It is undeniable that Ms. Uhlaender deserves to go to the Olympic Games.”
Uhlaender previously filed an appeal with IBS and says she had to pay a $5,000 fee to do so.
The IBSF’s Interim Integrity Unit investigated allegations of competition manipulation. It acknowledged that the withdrawals raised concerns, but concluded that the governing rules allow teams to withdraw athletes at any time. Because the rulebook contains no penalty or guarantee for late withdrawals that change the points distribution, the IIU dismissed the complaint.
But Uhlaender did not back down, vowing to further challenge the decision and even rallying international support for his cause.
Belgium, South Korea, the Virgin Islands, Malta, Israel and Denmark’s team have all thrown their support behind Uhlaender’s efforts and sent letters of support to the USOPC to try to get the event investigated further.
“My friends in Denmark and I, we haven’t talked about Greenland once,” joked Uhlaender.
Uhlaender has even said that some Canadian athletes are privately supporting her in this fight.
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 favor her participation.
“As U.S. Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to meet with the leadership of the International Olympic Committee, I respectfully ask that he stand with me as an Olympian who has represented the United States and our values, the USOPC, and the many affected nations in supporting our request to IOC President Kirsty Coventry to use her authority to uphold fairness in Olympic sports by granting an Uhla entry,” said an Uhla-enderry.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE Pakinomist APP
Katie Uhlaender of the United States poses for a portrait during Team USA Beijing 2022 Olympic training in Irvine, Calif., Sept. 12, 2021. (Tom Pennington/Getty Images for Team USA)
“Doing so would protect the integrity of the competition and prevent further harm. Such action would send a strong message to young athletes everywhere: that standing up for ethics and integrity can be difficult, but it matters.”
Pakinomist Digital has reached out to BCS and IBSF for a response.
