US skeleton racer Katie Uhlaender challenges Olympic decision after Canadian race withdrawals block her sixth Winter Games dream

Katie Uhlaender is not backing down, the American skeleton racer is fighting for what could be her sixth Olympic appearance. On Saturday, Katie Uhlaender said she is appealing a decision that may have cost her a spot at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. She believes the ruling was unfair and hurt her chances to qualify.Katie Uhlaender said she has now asked the International Olympic Committee for a wild-card entry into the women’s skeleton event. Right now, the Olympic field is full with 25 sliders, including two athletes from the United States. Still, Uhlaender believes there is room to fix what she calls a wrong decision.She says the issue started earlier this month during a North American Cup race. Four Canadian sliders withdrew from the event. Because of that, fewer ranking points were available. Uhlaender says those missing points stopped her from qualifying for the U.S. Olympic team. The International Bobsled and Skeleton Federation reviewed the case and said no rules were broken. But Uhlaender strongly disagrees and says she will keep fighting for fairness.

Katie Uhlaender says Canadian withdrawals changed Olympic race outcome

Katie Uhlaender said she made her request to the International Olympic Committee with full support from the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee. The committee confirmed it has asked for a discretionary Olympic spot on her behalf.“Had this race not been manipulated, I would be preparing to represent the United States of America and make history as the first woman to compete in six Olympic Winter Games for our country,” Uhlaender said in a statement on Saturday.She added, “Instead, I am now focused on legally challenging what I believe to be a fundamentally flawed investigation and decision by the IBSF in a final attempt to earn my place at what would be my sixth and last Olympic Games.”The North American Cup series is a level below the World Cup and is often used by developing athletes. This season, Uhlaender raced seven times across the North American Cup and the Asian Cup to earn enough points after missing the U.S. World Cup roster.Meanwhile, American sliders Kelly Curtis and Mystique Ro competed on the World Cup circuit and secured Olympic spots. Uhlaender has been clear that she does not want to take their places.She said, “I am only asking the IOC to be fair.”She added, “Doing so would protect the integrity of competition and prevent further harm. Such action would send a powerful message to young athletes everywhere: that standing up for ethics and integrity may be difficult, but it matters.”If her appeal fails, Uhlaender could take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.Uhlaender is a former world champion, winning gold in women’s skeleton in 2012. She also earned two more world championship medals and finished fourth at the 2014 Sochi Olympics. Many still believe she should have won bronze.That medal went to Russian slider Elena Nikitina. The medal was stripped years later due to a state-sponsored doping scandal, before being restored after an appeal.