U.S. sled racer Uhlaender says she was unfairly denied sixth Olympic bid : NPR
Katie Uhlaender of the United States competes in the women’s skeleton race at the 2025 IBSF World Championships at Mount Van Hoevenberg on March 6, 2025 in Lake Placid, New York.
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Former American luge runner Katie Uhlaender says she was unfairly denied the chance to compete in the sixth Winter Olympics. She wants the International Olympic Committee to create an additional “wild card” place that would allow her to race in Milan Cortina next month.
“This is about the integrity of sport and a code of ethics that upholds sportsmanship, fair play, integrity, respect and community,” Uhlaender said in a post on social media platform X on Sunday.
The controversy stems from a luge competition held earlier this month in Lake Placid, New York. International athletes, including Uhlaender, competed in heats, charging headfirst down a winding ice track, trying to secure the points needed to qualify for the Olympics.
Uhlaender, 41, of Breckenridge, Colo., competed well and looked likely to earn enough points to earn a trip to Milan Cortina.
But at the last minute, the Canadian skeleton team withdrew four female athletes from the Lake Placid event. Under the complicated points scoring system, fewer athletes meant Uhlaender got fewer qualifying points.
Uhlaender and other critics cried foul, describing Canada’s decision to bench its athletes as a deliberate effort to manipulate the qualification system.
Katie Uhlaender of the United States celebrates after finishing the fourth run of the women’s skeleton race during day two of the 2025 IBSF World Championships at Mount Van Hoevenberg on March 7, 2025 in Lake Placid, New York.
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Scrutiny from international sports officials leaves Uhlaender in the cold
Canadian sports officials, coaches and athletes have denied any wrongdoing. But the complaints prompted a review by the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF).
“The athletes’ late withdrawal intuitively suggests that this action could constitute unacceptable manipulation,” IBSF officials said in a statement.
On January 15, however, the IBSF ruled in Canada’s favor, saying the last-minute withdrawal of luges from Lake Placid did not violate regulations or the code of ethics. Uhlaender’s lowest point total remained unchanged.
At a news conference Monday, Rocky Harris, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee’s sports chief, said the U.S. team supported Uhlaender’s candidacy, but the request was denied.
“We sent a letter to the IOC and we received a response this morning saying they support the international community. [sledding] federation’s decision on the matter,” Harris said.
In a statement to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the head of the Canadian Olympic Committee, David Shoemaker, indicated that he considered the matter closed.
“It’s definitely not ideal to have the integrity of that [Canadian skeleton] program and its coach interviewed on the eve of the Olympics,” he told CBC.
Writing on Uhlaender also called on Vice President JD Vance, who is leading the US delegation to next week’s Milan Cortina opening ceremony, to put pressure on international sports officials.
“If I could speak with JD Vance, I would ask him if he would stand with me, the United States Olympic Committee and many other countries,” Uhlaender said.
