Katie Uhlaender denied Olympic bid by Canadian coach : NPR

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4400x2933+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F99%2F0b%2Fa5dbb48043e2a90cf2c57d4409f9%2Fgettyimages-1231097201.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4400x2933+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F99%2F0b%2Fa5dbb48043e2a90cf2c57d4409f9%2Fgettyimages-1231097201.jpg" class="img" alt="U.S. skeleton sledder Katie Uhlaender, age 41, is fighting for a chance to compete at the Milan Cortina Winter Games. International sports officials say her bid to race in a sixth Olympics was thwarted when a Canadian sled coach manipulated the point qualification system. Canadian sports officials deny any wrongdoing." fetchpriority="high"/> U.S. skeleton sledder Katie Uhlaender, age 41, is combating for an opportunity to compete on the Milan Cortina Winter Video games. Worldwide sports activities officers say her bid to race in a sixth Olympics was thwarted when a Canadian sled coach manipulated the purpose qualification system. Canadian sports activities officers deny any wrongdoing. Odd Andersen/AFP through Getty Photographs cover caption

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Odd Andersen/AFP through Getty Photographs The newest Olympic sports activities scandal started in mid-January when Katie Uhlaender, a veteran of 5 Winter Video games, confirmed up on the sled observe in Lake Placid, N.Y. It was the American skeleton racer's remaining shot to win sufficient factors to qualify for the Milan Cortina Video games.

Uhlaender advised NPR that simply earlier than the make-or-break competitors started, she acquired a textual content message from the top coach of Canada's skeleton workforce, Joe Cecchini. The message mentioned he had dangerous information for her.

The textual content was regarding sufficient that when Cecchini referred to as, Uhlaender organized to document their telephone dialog. In that recording, shared with NPR, Cecchini seems to be laying out a plan to control the purpose system utilized by sledders to qualify for the Olympic Video games.

"We have had some loopy races that haven't gone our manner this 12 months," Cecchini is heard saying. "And I am like, I can simply eradicate any potentialities right here."

Benching his personal sledders, a Canadian coach penalized athletes from different international locations Here is how Uhlaender says Cecchini's level manipulation scheme labored. Athletes competing in Lake Placid had been awarded qualifying factors relying on how properly they raced. Uhlaender was lightning quick that week. She rocketed headfirst on her sled down the winding ice-covered observe.

However underneath worldwide guidelines, the factors awarded to every athlete drop dramatically if fewer athletes compete. On the final minute, Cecchini withdrew 4 of the Canadian workforce's six feminine skeleton sledders. When that occurred and regardless of her dominant efficiency, Uhlaender acquired far fewer factors.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5472x3648+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe8%2F02%2F9ce6692740689f30065e35218eb3%2Fgettyimages-1301737997.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5472x3648+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe8%2F02%2F9ce6692740689f30065e35218eb3%2Fgettyimages-1301737997.jpg" class="img" alt="Katie Uhlaender of the United States is appealing her case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. But time is running out. Skeleton sled training at the Milan Cortina Olympics begins Feb. 9, 2026." loading="lazy"/> Katie Uhlaender of the USA is interesting her case to the Courtroom of Arbitration for Sport. However time is working out. Skeleton sled coaching on the Milan Cortina Olympics begins Feb. 9, 2026. Martin Rose/Getty Photographs Europe cover caption

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Martin Rose/Getty Photographs Europe "The complete factors [that would have been awarded if all the Canadians competed] had been 120," Uhlaender advised NPR. "What I used to be awarded was 90. I missed the video games by 18 factors."

Uhlaender says she's been buddies with Cecchini within the tight-knit world of worldwide sled racing for years. Of their telephone dialog, he appeared to voice remorse about how his maneuver would have an effect on her Olympic dream.

"I wished to inform you personally, due to our relationship," Cecchini mentioned.

Uhlaender may be heard questioning Cecchini, saying, "So you are going to verify it isn't full factors at the moment?"

"That is the place I stand at the moment," he responded, based on the recording. "I will have two ladies race. I will maintain it [the total number of athletes competing] at 19."

Canadian sports activities officers say their workforce's maneuver was "acceptable, clear" In the long run, Cecchini's determination made all of the distinction, inflicting Uhlaender to fall simply in need of an Olympic bid. NPR reached out repeatedly to Cecchini and his Canadian workforce requesting an interview.

Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton as an alternative despatched a sequence of statements, describing Cecchini's choices in Lake Placid as "acceptable, clear, and aligned with each athlete welfare and the integrity of the game."

"Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton is conscious of allegations being made in opposition to our program," the assertion reads. "Following a collective evaluation by the teaching and efficiency workforce, it was decided that persevering with to race these athletes was not of their greatest pursuits, nor in one of the best pursuits of this system."

Worldwide sports activities officers say Canada's transfer to penalize different athletes was "intentional" However a probe by the Worldwide Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation — the group that governs skeleton racing — backed up Uhlaender's allegations that Cecchini had intentionally gamed the purpose system.

In its findings, the federation decided Cecchini "turned involved that Canada would possibly lose an total Olympic quota spot if non-Canadian athletes in Lake Placid carried out properly."

So as to forestall that from taking place, officers say, Cecchini benched his sledders in a manner that was "intentional and directed to lowering the factors out there to athletes."

In a letter to the Worldwide Olympic Committee, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee additionally concluded that Uhlaender had been sidelined from the Olympic Video games because of "unfair actions taken at Lake Placid."

However whereas a rising variety of sports activities officers say the system was manipulated, they've to this point declined to intervene. There have been no sanctions for Canada by any worldwide sports activities physique. Uhlaender nonetheless is not scheduled to compete on the 2026 Winter Video games.

That outrages Rob Koehler, who heads a company primarily based in Canada referred to as World Athlete that advocates for honest sport. "I am Canadian by passport, however my job does not permit me to favor athletes nation to nation," he advised NPR.

““Substantial proof helps Ms. Uhlaender’s rivalry that the transfer was a deliberate effort by Canada to scale back the factors out there on the remaining Lake Placid NAC in order to guard its personal Olympic quotas,” the federation mentioned.Nevertheless, the IBSF additionally isn't taking any motion to…

— World Athlete (@GlobalAthleteHQ) January 30, 2026

In keeping with Koehler, the Worldwide Olympic Committee ought to intervene, permitting Uhlaender to compete. He additionally desires Canadian sports activities officers to open a probe into Cecchini's habits.

"The response and the response of silence from the Canadian Olympic Committee and the Canadian Bobsleigh and Skeleton [team] speaks volumes," Koehler mentioned. "Silence equals complicity."

Yet another attraction for Uhlaender This is not the primary time a Canadian Olympic ladies's workforce has been accused of unethical habits. In the course of the 2024 Summer season Olympics in Paris, the Canadian soccer workforce was accused of utilizing a drone to spy on the practices of opposing groups.

Uhlaender, in the meantime, has now appealed her case to 1 remaining worldwide sports activities evaluation physique: the Courtroom of Arbitration for Sport. She's hoping it would intervene in time for her to compete.

She mentioned this case will even decide whether or not the purpose qualification system for future Olympics is honest or open to manipulation. "We would like our sport to be moral," Uhlaender advised NPR. "We would like the integrity of our sport to be upheld. Integrity issues."

Time is working out. The opening ceremony for the Milan Cortina Video games is subsequent Friday. Girls skeleton racers make their first coaching runs within the mountains of Italy on February 9.