US sled racer Uhlaender says she was unfairly denied sixth Olympic bid

"Veteran U.S. sled racer Katie Uhlaender says she's been unfairly denied a chance to compete in a sixth Winter Olympic Games. She wants the International Olympic Committee to create an additional "wild card" berth that would allow her to race in Milan Cortina next month. "This is about the integrity of sport and code of ethics that upholds sportsmanship, fair play, integrity, respect and community," Uhlaender said in a post on the social media platform X on Sunday."

"The controversy stems from a sledding competition held earlier this month in Lake Placid, New York. International athletes, including Uhlaender, raced in head-to-head heats, rocketing head-first down a winding ice track, attempting to secure points needed to qualify for the Olympics. Uhlaender, 41, of Breckenridge, Colorado, competed well and appeared likely to secure enough points to earn a trip to Milan Cortina."

"But at the last minute, the Canadian skeleton team withdrew four women athletes from the Lake Placid event. Under the complicated point tally system, the drop in the number of athletes meant Uhlaender was awarded fewer qualifying points. Uhlaender and other critics cried foul, describing Canada's move to bench its athletes as a deliberate effort to manipulate the qualifying system. Canadian sports officials, coaches and athletes have denied any wrongdoing. But the complaints prompted a review by the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF)."

Katie Uhlaender says she was unfairly denied a chance to compete in a sixth Winter Olympic Games and requests the International Olympic Committee create an extra wild-card berth for Milan Cortina. The issue followed a Lake Placid sledding competition where international athletes raced head-first to earn Olympic qualifying points. The Canadian skeleton team withdrew four women at the last minute, reducing competitors and causing Uhlaender to receive fewer qualifying points. Critics alleged the withdrawals were deliberate manipulation; Canadian officials denied wrongdoing. The International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation reviewed the complaints and on Jan. 15 ruled the withdrawals did not violate regulations, leaving Uhlaender’s point total unchanged.

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