Katie Uhlaender, a U.S. skeleton athlete, remains determined in her pursuit of competing in her sixth Winter Olympics, as she formally appeals an international ruling that seemingly eliminated her from contention for the Milan Cortina 2026 Games.
She has submitted a request to the International Olympic Committee for a wild-card entry, which would allow her to join the women's skeleton competition that is currently capped at 25 competitors, including two Americans. Uhlaender’s petition is supported by the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, which has formally advocated on her behalf for the granting of this discretionary spot.
In a statement released on Saturday, shared with this report, Uhlaender expressed her disappointment with the situation, saying, "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." She acknowledged that, instead, she is concentrating on legally contesting what she perceives as a fundamentally flawed decision and investigation conducted by the International Bobsled and Skeleton Federation (IBSF), as a final effort to secure her place in what she hopes will be her last Olympic appearance.
The conflict centers on a recent North American Cup (NAC) skeleton race during which four Canadian participants withdrew from the event. This sequence of withdrawals reduced the number of points that could be earned, which has complicated the rankings used to determine Olympic qualification. Had the Canadians competed, Uhlaender’s point total and standing likely would have been sufficient to secure her place on the U.S. Olympic team.
Following the withdrawals, the IBSF investigated Canada’s actions and concluded that no rules had been violated by the Canadian federation. Despite this conclusion, Uhlaender indicates she is prepared to escalate her appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Documentation reviewed indicates that other nations may be supporting Uhlaender’s position in this dispute.
Uhlaender has competed this season primarily in the North American Cup and Asian Cup circuits, which are considered developmental tours below the World Cup level. She participated in seven races across these lower tiers, attempting to accumulate enough points to qualify for the Olympic team after being unable to secure a spot on the U.S. World Cup roster earlier in the season.
In contrast, fellow American skeleton athletes Kelly Curtis and Mystique Ro successfully competed on the World Cup tour this season and have already earned their Olympic berths. Uhlaender has stated emphatically that she does not intend to undermine or block the Olympic hopes of Curtis, Ro, or any other athletes.
Her focus remains solely on obtaining fairness from the IOC. "Doing so would protect the integrity of competition and prevent further harm," Uhlaender remarked. "Such action would send a powerful message to young athletes everywhere: that standing up for ethics and integrity may be difficult, but it matters."
Uhlaender’s career highlights include winning the women's skeleton world championship in 2012 and securing medals in other world championships. At the 2014 Sochi Olympics, she finished fourth amid controversy, with many believing she deserved the bronze medal. The bronze was originally awarded to Russian athlete Elena Nikitina, who was later stripped of her medal due to a doping scandal before having her result reinstated on appeal.
For updates on the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and Uhlaender’s appeal, follow ongoing coverage.