Sports

U.S. asks for extra Olympic quota spot for Katie Uhlaender in skeleton controversy

January 24, 2026

Story byU. S. asks for extra Olympic quota spot for Katie Uhlaender in skeleton controversyZack PierceSat, January 24, 2026 at 8:46 PM UTC·5 min readThe United States has asked the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for an extra quota spot in women’s skeleton for next month’s Winter Olympics due to a controversial incident that prevented one of its athletes, Katie Uhlaender, from qualifying for the Games. The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) sent a letter to the IOC on Friday, citing support from several other national federations, asking president Kirsty Coventry and the executive board to intervene and award an additional spot for Uhlaender, whose hopes to qualify for her sixth Olympics were dashed this month after a heavily scrutinized decision by a Canadian coach. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIn the letter, Rocky Harris, the USOPC’s chief of sport and athlete services, urges the IOC to “rectify the unfair actions” at a recent race in Lake Placid, N. Y. On Jan.

Credit: Yahoo

Key Highlights

11, Uhlaender and 22 other sliders were preparing for a race in the North American Cup — a second-tier circuit, below the World Cup.
At the last minute, the Canadian team pulled its four athletes from the race, dropping the total competitors to 19.
Races with fewer than 21 sliders bring a 25 percent reduction in points available to each finisher, per International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation (IBSF) rules. With just a week to go before the Olympic qualification window closed, it was an important — and, in some cases, final — opportunity to earn points for many in the field.
Uhlaender and others expected the full points to be available.
Canada was also clinging to its two-sled Olympic quota, and the results of the Lake Placid race could have impacted that. The late decision and the circumstances led multiple nations to accuse Canada of manipulating the competition.

Athletic - Women's Olympics The Athletic

Sources

U.S. asks for extra Olympic quota spot for Katie Uhlaender in skeleton controversy

This quick summary is automatically generated using AI based on reports from multiple news sources. The content has not been reviewed or verified by humans. For complete details, accuracy, and context, please refer to the original published articles.

U.S. asks for extra Olympic quota spot for Katie Uhlaender in skeleton controversy

Key Highlights

Sources

Related Stories

Kerr walks back comments on Porzingis' diagnosis

MSU's Thompson blazes combine-best 4.26 in 40

Trumbull defends CIAC girls wrestling title; Platt's Kayli Morris lands fourth crown