U.S. sled racer Uhlaender says she was unfairly denied sixth Olympic bid

Veteran U.S. sled racer Katie Uhlaender says she’s been unfairly denied an opportunity to compete in a sixth Winter Olympic Video games. She desires the Worldwide Olympic Committee to create a further “wild card” berth that might enable her to race in Milan Cortina subsequent month.

“That is concerning the integrity of sport and code of ethics that upholds sportsmanship, truthful play, integrity, respect and neighborhood,” Uhlaender mentioned in a publish on the social media platform X on Sunday.

The controversy stems from a sledding competitors held earlier this month in Lake Placid, New York. Worldwide athletes, together with Uhlaender, raced in head-to-head heats, rocketing head-first down a winding ice monitor, making an attempt to safe factors wanted to qualify for the Olympics.

Uhlaender, 41, of Breckenridge, Colorado, competed nicely and appeared prone to safe sufficient factors to earn a visit to Milan Cortina.

However on the final minute, the Canadian skeleton staff withdrew 4 girls athletes from the Lake Placid occasion. Beneath the difficult level tally system, the drop within the variety of athletes meant Uhlaender was awarded fewer qualifying factors.

Uhlaender and different critics cried foul, describing Canada’s transfer to bench its athletes as a deliberate effort to govern the qualifying system.

Overview by worldwide sports activities officers leaves Uhlaender within the chilly

Canadian sports activities officers, coaches and athletes have denied any wrongdoing. However the complaints prompted a assessment by the Worldwide Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF).

“The late withdrawal of athletes intuitively provides rise to concern that the motion might have constituted impermissible manipulation,” IBSF officers mentioned in a press release.

On Jan. 15, nevertheless, the IBSF dominated in Canada’s favor, saying the final minute withdrawal of sledders in Lake Placid didn’t violate laws or the code of ethics. Uhlaender’s decrease level complete remained unchanged.

Throughout a information convention on Monday, Rocky Harris, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee chief of sport, mentioned Workforce USA supported Uhlaender’s bid to compete, however the request was denied.

“We did ship a letter to the IOC and we obtained a response this morning that they’re supporting the worldwide [sledding] federation resolution on the matter,” Harris mentioned.

In a press release to the Canadian Broadcast Company, the pinnacle of the Canadian Olympic Committee David Shoemaker signaled he views the matter closed.

“It is actually not splendid to have the integrity of that [Canadian skeleton] program and its coach questioned on the eve of the Olympics,” he advised the CBC.

Writing on X, Uhlaender, who has competed in Olympic skeleton occasions for the reason that 2006 Winter Video games, mentioned she nonetheless hopes the IOC will reverse course and create a particular berth for her to compete In Milan. Uhlaender additionally referred to as on Vice President J.D. Vance, who’s heading the U.S. delegation to the Milan Cortina opening ceremony subsequent week, to strain worldwide sports activities officers.

“If I may converse with J.D. Vance, I’d ask if he would stand with me, the U.S. Olympic Committee, and lots of different nations,” Uhlaender mentioned.