Katie Uhlaender Named to World Cup Team

LAKE PLACID, N.Y.-The U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation (USBSF) officially announces that two-time World Cup Champion and Olympian Katie Uhlaender (Breckenridge, Colo.) has been waived onto the women’s skeleton 2009-2010 World Cup team.

“Based on Katie’s performance in the current quad and her medical diagnosis that she will be 100% by the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, the USBSF Waiver Committee has granted her a waiver onto the World Cup team,” said USBSF CEO Darrin Steele.

Uhlaender shattered her kneecap into several pieces in a snowmobile accident last April and has had numerous operations to repair the damage. Uhlaender was granted a medical waiver through trials, but her placement onto a team was not decided until last night.

The USBSF Waiver Committee met and voted on Uhlaender’s waiver onto the team following the first two selection races in Lake Placid, N.Y.

“Because Katie’s recovery was such an important part of the decision, the committee wanted a current x-ray and medical review prior to making the determination,” said Steele. “The medical information came the day of the Lake Placid race draw. The committee decided to table the vote until after the first half of the selection races so that athletes could stay focused on the races and not be distracted by the decision.”

Athletes will resume racing for the final two positions on the women's skeleton team in Park City, Utah on October 23-24.