Olympic tensions flare as US skeleton star alleges Canadian coach rigged qualifying event

"Uhlaender says that Canada deliberately pulled four of its sixth athletes from the race in the North American Cup in Lake Placid, New York. That meant the field was reduced to under 21 athletes and fewer qualifying points were on offer due to the lack of competition. Uhlaender believes the Canadian team did so to prevent American athletes from catching them in the standings for Olympic qualifying."

"I cried when I found out he went through with this plan, Uhlaender told DW. 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 says that Cecchini told her on Friday that it was not his job to uplift athletes from other countries and that his aim was to eliminate any possibilities that Canada's Jane Channell would miss this year's Olympics."

"Uhlaender won the event at Lake Placid but the reduced points on offer means the 41-year-old will miss the Olympics. Although she won gold at the 2012 skeleton world championships, the closest she has come to an Olympic medal was when she finished fourth at the 2014 Games in Sochi. Coaches from the US, Denmark, Israel and Malta, whose athletes were all affected by the Canadian withdrawals, have written to the IOC expressing serious concerns about the qualification process. In a statement, Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton defended the withdrawals, saying some of the athletes who were pulled from competition had already raced several times last week"

Katie Uhlaender, a five-time U.S. Olympic skeleton athlete, missed Olympic qualification after Canada withdrew four athletes from a North American Cup race in Lake Placid. The withdrawals reduced the field below 21 competitors, lowering available qualifying points despite Uhlaender winning the race. Uhlaender alleges Canadian head coach Joe Cecchini devised the withdrawals to protect teammate Jane Channell's Olympic spot and told her he was not responsible for uplifting athletes from other countries. Coaches from the US, Denmark, Israel and Malta have written to the IOC with concerns, while Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton defended the withdrawals.

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