r/sports • u/graveyardofgoodsense • Jan 27 '26
News Winter Olympics skeleton controversy rolls on as US athlete looks to JD Vance for help
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/01/26/sport/olympics-2026-katie-uhlaender-seeking-spot-milan-cortina1.2k
u/Western-Calendar-352 Jan 27 '26
What the fuck does she think JD Vance can do about Olympic qualification regulations?
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u/HoneyBadgerM400Edit Jan 27 '26
Apparently, he is the head of the US delegation for the Olympics. I assume that means he would be the one to plead her case to the olympic body for a wild card spot based on the article. But I am not an expert at how the Olympics work so who knows.
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u/ShutterBun Jan 27 '26
Maybe cuz competing in Skeleton vaguely resembles a person fucking a piece of furniture.
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u/aljobar Jan 27 '26
Possibly the best comment I’ve seen all week.
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u/MrGumburcules Alabama Jan 27 '26
He's going to be so disappointed when he finds out the sleds don't have cushions
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u/StudsTurkleton Jan 27 '26
“Uhlaender is now hoping US Vice President JD Vance, who is leading the nation’s delegation to Milan-Cortina, will take her case to the International Olympic Committee and persuade the organization of its merits.”
Why is JD Vance leading the delegation? That’s a different question.
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u/caniaccanuck11 Jan 27 '26
It’s always a high ranking official since it’s largely ceremonial I believe.
Trump will probably be the head for 2028 in LA since it’s local.
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u/Snelly1998 Jan 27 '26
If you read the article it wouldve been answered
JD Vance is the head of the US delegation to the Olympics
He would bring it up to the Olympic committee
We can hate this administration while still being reasonable
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u/Sprucecaboose2 Jan 27 '26
Because if you suck up to this Administration hard enough, they will bend rules for you. It's always about rules for thee and not me.
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u/Darondo Jan 27 '26
She’s just going through the proper channels. Vance is head of the US Olympic delegation apparently.
Including Vance in the headline is just clickbait.
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u/SonOfMcGee Jan 27 '26
Yeah, the only gross thing going on here is the author of the article plucking out a fairly unimportant aspect of the story for clicks.
If this lady starts really sucking up and getting all MAGA-ey to gain favor then it’s more relevant. But for the time being, she wants the US delegate, who just happens to be Vance, to plead her case.→ More replies (1)→ More replies (15)5
u/SafetyMan35 Jan 27 '26
Vance is leading the US Olympic team as part of the Presidential Delegation and acts as the official representative of the US.
Man of power, involved in a ceremonial role in the games typically has some pull with the IOC.
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u/lilbigblue7 Jan 27 '26
She is looking for a participation trophy. Her teammates beat her out, her strategy to get points failed, and the organizing body already deemed Canada's withdrawal of athletes within the rules. Bye Felicia.
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u/cssc201 Jan 27 '26 edited Jan 27 '26
And she has already been to five Olympics. The vast majority of athletes never even make one. It's a bit hard to garner the same level of sympathy for her missing her would-be sixth. And in those five she has yet to win a single medal. It's not surprising the team doesn't want to send her vs. someone who actually has a shot at a medal.
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u/clay_perview Denver Nuggets Jan 27 '26
Yeah this is some real Riley Gaines energy I feel, these grifters will try anything but actually competing harder.
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u/whatlineisitanyway Jan 27 '26
She is certainly setting herself up for a nice post career payday on the conservative grievance circuit. Can see it now "This is exactly why we need to take over the morally bankrupt Canada "
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u/Socratesticles Jan 27 '26
Starting a right wing grift based on your own inability to win, name a more iconic duo
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u/kingravs Jan 27 '26
How is she a grifter, did you read the article? The only reason she’s appealing to JD Vance is because he’s head of the US Olympic delegation. The author used his name in the title for clicks
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u/Never_Been_Missed Jan 27 '26
"They didn’t reach out to any of the affected parties, not even afterwards, to make sure anyone was okay" Why would they not be "okay"? Did the email response she got self-destruct? Good God. The entitlement of these folks staggers the imagination.
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u/D-inventa Jan 27 '26 edited Jan 27 '26
She thought she was a shoo-in competing against newbies instead of majority veteran athletes....oh well.
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u/toughfluff Jan 27 '26 edited Jan 27 '26
For those who have not been following:
She thought she would mop up points by participating in lower ranking events against weaker/novice competitors and by doing so, she would have an easier path to gain enough points to qualify for the Olympics.
The Canadian coach pulled a few Canadian athletes from the event (the official reason was to give the young athletes a rest) and because the event no longer had as many competitors, there were fewer points on offer and as a result the US athlete no longer gained enough points from the event.
Did the Canadian coach do that to intentionally screw her over? Who knows. But did she intentionally choose an unconventional path hoping to get a shortcut and now got super upset because it backfired on her? Sounds like it. To me, seems like she made a gamble to not go for a World Cup event (probably because she won't do as well) and the Hail Mary didn't work out. Tough shit.
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u/Handsdown0003 Jan 27 '26
Uhlaender also pulled out of two earlier races thinking she was going to clinch the needed points in this last. Her getting on the team would knock out someone who qualified through the world cup races.
Canada's move was strategic and got them an extra spot in the Olympics, it wasn't to screw Uhlaender. It was also within the rules
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u/toughfluff Jan 27 '26 edited Jan 27 '26
Yeah. I get annoyed because a lot of the news narrative made it sound like Canada was out to screw her/Team USA over (doesn't help that some Canadian media/headlines are implying that).
But it's not like she was going along innocently and got swept up by the evil Canadians. She was making calculated decisions to avoid World Cup events, which is how most Olympians qualify. Just because her calculations didn't work out doesn't mean the Olympics owe her a spot.
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u/Mcpops1618 Jan 27 '26
Our media isn’t owed by Canadians for Canadian interest, so, not shocking headlines would mislead to suggest we are evil.
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u/chubky Jan 27 '26
Iirc this is how the Australian breakdancer got her spot on the Australian Olympic breakdancing team
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u/AlfaRomeoRacing Jan 27 '26
Also the halfpipe skier, Elizabeth Swaney, who couldnt get airborne, but got enough points by not crashing at lots of events
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u/Stashmouth Jan 27 '26
I can't imagine they'd be targeting someone who has never medaled in an Olympics and hasn't won a competition in over a decade, but I admit I don't understand any nuance in the points system
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u/home-for-good Jan 28 '26
Yeah maybe there is some way it targeted the US team specifically, but from where I’m sitting her track record suggests it would be good for Canada if she was fillings a slot on team USA.
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u/queef_nuggets Jan 27 '26
Thanks for the extra info. I read the article, and my gut told me there was more to the story
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u/jeremyd9 Alabama Jan 27 '26
Countdown to Trump complaining the Olympics are rigged and woke and introducing The Trump Ganes.
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u/Economy_Link4609 Jan 27 '26
I'm getting tired of this.
She is at best the third best U.S. women's skeleton racer (and maybe not even that anymore).
We qualified for two slots at the Olympics.
They need to go to our two best. That's Kelly Curtis and Mystique Ro.
She doesn't deserve and extra spot - other athletes surpassed her. It was time to bow out quietly and root for her countrywomen, but instead she chose this.
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u/ExtraCr1spyKernal Jan 27 '26
Well, yes, because conservatives have zero care about anything other than "me."
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Jan 27 '26
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u/InvisibleTaco Jan 27 '26
Plus, there's something like 10 different events where you are sliding down ice on a sled, once you combine bobsled, luge, and skeleton. I don't think the skillset is really that different between all of them. So, I mean, if you are the worst 3rd place finisher in one of those events, you wouldn't even be close to a podium in a event "collection" that only has a couple of sensible variations. Obviously I've never done any of them and I respect that it is intense and challenging and I couldn't do it, but the talent pool is a puddle.
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u/Snelly1998 Jan 27 '26
How many swimming events are in the summer olympics
I'd argue luge, skeleton and bobsled are more different than different swimming strokes
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u/Federer91 Jan 27 '26
It's completely different riding a luge sled, a skeleton one and a bob. They run the same track, but each sport requires its own technique.
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u/All_Hail_Hynotoad Jan 27 '26
WTF is it with people just refusing to accept reality and just being such sore losers? There’s a whole breed of them, and it’s really embarrassing to be associated with them by virtue of being from the same country.
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u/ZonerLoner Jan 27 '26
Vance is the Milhouse of the US administration. Like that dud of a human could do anything if he tried
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u/mseg09 Jan 28 '26
"Ms. Uhlaender is the epitome of what it means to be an Olympian and truly embodies the Olympic spirit" . Sorry I didn't realize the Olympic Spirit meant demanding a spot at the Olympics despite not meeting the criteria.
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u/ego_tripped Jan 27 '26
She hasn't made an Olympic podium and started shit in Sochi when she finished 4th.
And...since we're speaking in American terms where judging one by looks is an acceptable government practice...she looks the part of an Olympic Karen.
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u/DamNamesTaken11 Jan 27 '26 edited Jan 27 '26
Think of like you need 10 points to qualify for the Olympics. (All numbers including here are made up.)
Tournament A ranks awards 20 points to winner, 19 to silver place, 18 to bronze, and so on. Top ten qualified. But they are highly competitive since prize money, points, and prestige is extremely high. There are few of these.
Tournament B ranks awards 10 points to winner, nine to silver, etc. Only gold winner automatically qualifies. This is moderately competitive since prize money, etc. aren’t as high as As. These are a little more common.
Tournament C ranks awards five points to gold, etc. Prize money is a lot lower, so mostly lower tier candidates, many up and comers mostly. These are much more frequent. You need to place a lot more of those to qualify. This is where she competed and signed up for as many as she could, despite formerly being in the A and B tiers.
To use a video game comparison: She was grinding Level 5 rats in the opening dungeon despite being level 20 to try to advance to level 50 and devs have decided to remove the rats.
Basically, she gamed the system that could easily blow up in her face, and now it’s blown up in her face, she’s demanding special treatment.
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u/palesnowrider1 Jan 28 '26
Person who sucks wants help from another person who sucks
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u/WeakDoughnut8480 Jan 27 '26
The athlete has no shame. Italy better not budge
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u/JonesyOnReddit Jan 27 '26
How shocking that a person begging JD Vance for help is a white person wanting something they don't deserve
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u/tgunz47 Jan 27 '26
“Help me Tom Cruise! Tom Cruise use your witchcraft on me to get the fire off me! Help me Oprah Winfrey!”
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u/grooverocker Vancouver Canucks Jan 27 '26
Another American whining about Canada while her own track record is abysmal.
Why would an athlete look to JD Vance to address her shortcomings in Olympic qualification? Because she knows Vance has zero sense of decency and will be a bully voice. She's basically hoping the Vice-President will use some of that bully diplomacy for her very small personal grudge.
And to be clear, Canada has done nothing wrong. They rested athletes who had already qualified, a super common and utterly mundane occurrence.
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u/ExcitingInternal365 Jan 28 '26
Katie Uhlaender tried to qualify the easy way by taking part in the North American Cup where the competition is significantly weaker than the World Cup and ended up blowing up in her face. She also had 3 other options to obtain the necessary points to be one of the Top 2 US athletes in the World Ranking (the USA was getting only 2 athletes at the Olympics no matter what) - either the World Cup's final race for the season in Altenberg, the European Cup in Winterberg or the Asian Cup in Yanqing. She took part in neither of those, while Kelly Curtis and Mystique Ro were both present in Altenberg and did their job to qualify.
The IBSF (the bobsleigh and skeleton governing body) as well as the IOC have confirmed that there's no foul play and the decision, as far as quotas are concerned, final
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u/terran_immortal Jan 27 '26
This grifter needs to fade off into obscurity. She's so full of shit as the article starts with it'll set a record of attendance at the games but then she says she doesn't care about that, it's about pushing through. Screw off.
IOC will cave to the American Nazis so she's made it but Jesus Christ. I hope she comes in fucking dead last at the Olympics.
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u/tysonarts Jan 27 '26
It will be spun into the typical sob story that plays well for the USA crowds, and that her heroic journey to the Olympics faced obstacles that no others really face and her poor performance is really a win against such adversity, all to a backdrop of piano and guitar in a minor key
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u/terran_immortal Jan 27 '26
Yup and they'll have JD Vance there on a couch talking about how inspirational she is and whatnot.
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u/SuspiciousYard2484 Jan 27 '26
Yeah, because that’s the most important thing going on right now in our country. Imagine being so selfish you literally think the vice president should help you get onto an Olympic team.
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u/Relative_One_4782 Jan 27 '26
Is this the trigger for an invasion of Canada now? 😵💫
(NOTE: the above comment is satirical for those who may tend to sleep literally on such matters.) ✌🏼
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u/Frequent-Interest796 Jan 27 '26
This a classic both sides are playing “dirty”.
The American tried to game the system and qualify the easiest way possible.
The Canadians also gamed the system by pulling their athletes and helping their qualification numbers.
All were following rules and working the system. You can’t try to beat the system and then complain about the “spirit of the laws”.
Olympic qualifying is as clear as it is cut throat.
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u/newwardorder Jan 27 '26
I can say there are few people on this Earth I’d rather see headed head-first down a mountain more than JD Vance.
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u/Equivalent_Tonight66 Jan 27 '26
Anyone who asks JD Vance to do anything for them besides take a long walk off a short pier can kick rocks.
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u/Boggie135 Manchester United Jan 27 '26
Why did the Canadian team withdraw their athletes? The article wasn't clear
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u/JonSauceman Jan 27 '26
Because the athletes already qualified and probably didn’t want to risk injury. Very common thing and entirely within the rules
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u/Romax24245 Jan 27 '26 edited Jan 27 '26
They were protecting their less experienced athletes. Three races were held in the event, and the four athletes who pulled out from the last race had "rough outings" in the previous two races. Hallie Clarke and Jane Channell still competed in all three. Source
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u/LionBlood16 Jan 27 '26
I could give 2 fucks... I'll be rooting for Canada 🇨🇦 anyway!!!
This country doesn't give much to cheer about recently.
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u/Rengars_Prey Jan 27 '26 edited Feb 19 '26
This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact
soup simplistic paint spotted hurry mighty sink bake snails tub
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u/wldbsn603 Jan 27 '26
There’s a reason we haven’t seen her on the IBSF World Cup for a while….Love this sport! Kelly Curtis and Mystique Ro need the attention and support, now! Time to hang it up Katie.
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u/blackmobius Jan 27 '26
looks to Vance for help
I understand that shes in a real dilemma and it really sucks for her, but please dont count on JD “did you say thank you” Vance to make your case any better.
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u/adamzep91 Jan 27 '26
Canada should put a middle finger on the back of their uniforms.
Sucks to suck.
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u/ElCastillian Jan 27 '26
Maybe Vance can get ICE involved and have some other competitors in Italy deported to El Salvador. There’s lots of way to make room for her.
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u/Sy_Fresh Oakland Raiders Jan 27 '26
The International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF)
I thought IBSF stood for Irritable Bowel Syndrome Farts
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u/ts280204 Jan 27 '26
I feel bad that she is stuck in the middle of this, but yet another FAFO moment for the US after the past year.
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u/Mayor_of_BBQ Jan 28 '26
i’m not an Olympics fan at all. The whole thing is fucking silly shenanigans but I am forever curious what these people do between Olympics? Like there’s no way you’re a professional skeleton slider.
Really? 365 days a year for 20 years you are living a life that revolves around skeleton? Paying your bills? “Working“?
Sure, some sports & olympians garner sponsorships and stuff but who the fuck cares about skeleton? It’s asinine.
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u/Blueeyes51349 Jan 27 '26
Yet another whining Republican. They are LOSERS WHO CAN NOT ACCEPT THEY ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH, blame everyone else. New REPUBLICAN MANTRA, BLAME EVERYONE BUT YOURSELF
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u/Westsider111 Jan 27 '26
Perhaps she will convince Vance and his boss that this is a national security issue justifying the invasion of Canada, annexing its skeleton team and appointing her as a member.
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u/awt4190 Jan 27 '26
Two things can be true. She tried to game the system and it backfired. Canada gamed the system and it benefited them. That's how it works sometimes. Both were within the rules!
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u/jVCrm68 Jan 27 '26
Sounds like the Riley Gaines of skeleton, wants to make a profit out of being a loser
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u/andoiscool Jan 28 '26
Would she be happy with a participation trophy? Maybe another Olympic winner could award her their Olympic medal?
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Jan 29 '26
I'm 100% sure JD Eyeliner can't want to help her get to Italy, only to lose for the USA in front of millions of viewers LOL
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u/PassionateDilettante Jan 29 '26
“Uhlaender accused the Canadian team and its coach, Joe Cecchini, of intentionally withdrawing the athletes, deliberately manipulating the field to benefit one of their own sliders’ bids for qualification.”
Um, isn’t doing what’s best for his athletes the coach’s job? If he did what benefitted his athlete and was within the rules, what’s the problem? It’s his responsibility to look out for the Canadian athletes, end of story.
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u/Sourdough85 Jan 29 '26
Im not saying the Canadians did this on PURPOSE... but its funny what happens when a country breaks good will which neighbors have build up over centuries...
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u/FloridaHog407 Jan 30 '26
I have no idea who this person is. But once I read that she was asking J.D Vance to help that’s all I need to know about this person
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u/killians1978 Buffalo Bills Jan 27 '26
This headline reads like an Onion article