""I cried when I found out he went through with this plan," said Uhlaender, who has represented the United States at five Olympic Games, beginning in Torino 2006. "I didn't know if it hurt more that my friend of 20 years just nailed my coffin my Olympic dream is over or that my best friend of 20 years is doing something so horrible that hurts so many people," Uhlaender said."
"According to Uhlaender, six Canadian women had been lined up to race in the North American Cup at Lake Placid, New York, on Sunday, before four were instructed to pull out of the competition at the last minute, reducing the size of the field to under 21. Crucially, this meant that fewer qualifying points were on offer and, as a result, it made it more difficult for Canadian athletes to be caught in the Olympic qualifying rankings."
"According to Uhlaender, Cecchini who competed for Italy at the 2018 Winter Olympics told her in a telephone call on Friday night that he wanted to "eliminate any possibilities" that Canada's Jane Channell, a veteran of two Winter Olympics, could fail to qualify. When she pleaded with him to change his mind, Uhlaender said, Cecchini asked how it was his responsibility to "uplift" other countries."
Joe Cecchini, head coach of Canada's skeleton team, allegedly admitted manipulating a North American Cup qualifying event to reduce the field and available Olympic points. Six Canadian women were entered for the Lake Placid race before four were withdrawn at the last minute, lowering the field to under 21 and reducing points on offer. The reduction made it harder for Canadian athletes to be displaced in the Olympic rankings and diminished other competitors' opportunities to earn qualifying points, effectively ending Katie Uhlaender's chance to reach a sixth Winter Olympics. An email attributed to Cecchini said the withdrawals were to "ensure that we have a complete and accurate understanding of the points la".
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