Team Canada Caught Manipulating Skeleton Event That Blocked U.S. Olympian from Games

So much for Olympic integrity. In a stunning revelation, the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) has confirmed that Team Canada deliberately manipulated a qualifying event to block American Olympian Katie Uhlaender from earning a shot at her sixth Winter Games.

But here's the real kicker they’re getting away with it.

The IBSF determined that Canadian officials intentionally withdrew four of their own athletes from the final North American Cup in Lake Placid, New York, reducing the number of competitors and thus slashing the points available to racers. As a result, Uhlaender, a five-time Olympian, was mathematically eliminated from contention before she even stepped onto the ice.

The investigation concluded that Canada's actions were not about “athlete safety” or “long-term development” as Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton initially claimed. Instead, the move was a cold, calculated effort to protect their own Olympic quota spots at the direct expense of a respected American athlete.

“Substantial evidence supports Ms. Uhlaender’s contention that the move was a deliberate effort by Canada to reduce the points available,” the IBSF’s official report stated.

Even more disturbing is that no punishment was issued. No sanctions. No athlete reinstated. No disqualifications. No change in results. The IBSF threw up its hands and claimed the Olympic rulebook doesn’t allow adjustments without formal penalties which they then refused to issue.

Meanwhile, Uhlaender who has given over 20 years of her life to Olympic sport is left on the sidelines.

This is not just a bureaucratic misstep. It's a slap in the face to every athlete who plays by the rules, sacrifices their body and spirit, and believes the Olympic motto still means something. Canada’s manipulation described by insiders as “blatant” took place in full view of the international community, and so far, no one has had the courage to hold them accountable.

Uhlaender herself said it best “This was blatant competition manipulation, yet there have been no consequences… I’m fighting for every athlete who has been harmed by competition manipulation.”

And she's not fighting alone.

The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee has formally petitioned the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to grant Uhlaender a wildcard entry to Milan Cortina 2026. Fourteen other countries have joined the protest, including South Korea, Belgium, Brazil, Jamaica, Nigeria, Israel, and others. Their collective message? This isn’t just about one athlete it’s about the future of fair sport.

But the IOC, in classic fashion, dodged responsibility “This matter relates to the application of IBSF’s rules… The IOC understands that IBSF has already responded.”

Don't look at us.

It’s the same cowardice that has plagued international sport for decades. From doping scandals to political boycotts to rigged qualification, athletes have too often been left to clean up the mess while corrupt federations and national bodies escape unscathed.

Now, with time running out, Vice President JD Vance who will lead the U.S. presidential delegation to the Milan Cortina Games has a real opportunity to act. Uhlaender has urged him to personally advocate for her reinstatement when he meets with IOC leadership.

“Doing so would protect the integrity of competition and send a powerful message to young athletes everywhere: that standing up for ethics and integrity may be difficult, but it matters.”

And she’s right. If ever there was a moment for bold leadership, it’s now. This isn’t just about medals it’s about whether the Olympic Games still mean anything at all.

Canada’s actions were deliberate. The evidence is overwhelming. The silence from international officials is deafening. If the rules cannot be bent to correct a blatant injustice, then perhaps the rules or those enforcing them need to go.

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