US Olympian speaks out after Team Canada withdrawal prevents her from qualifying for Milan-Cortina

Five-time Team USA Olympic skeleton athlete tells Fox News Digital about her battle to get a spot in the upcoming Winter Games after Team Canada withdrew from a recent competition, affecting her ability to earn points for qualification.

Five-time Team USA Olympian Katie Uhlaender was on her way to making her sixth Winter Games. But then a decision by Team Canada took it all away. 

With a shot at qualifying during the North American Skeleton Cup in Lake Placid, New York, earlier this month, Canada withdrew four of its athletes from competition. The withdrawal shrunk the total amount of points the competition could award, making it impossible for Uhlaender to earn enough for Olympic qualification. 

Four Canadian women’s skeleton athletes were withdrawn just before competition. Under International Bobsled and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) rules, only 75% ofpoints were issued, mathematically eliminating Uhlaender from Milan-Cortina before the first heat even began.

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Katie Uhlaender of the U.S. competes in the women’s skeleton event at the Pyeongchang 2018 Olympic Winter Games at the Olympic Sliding Center in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Feb. 17, 2018. (James Lang/USA Today Sports)

One of the Canadian athletes said the coaches said the reason for the withdrawal was due to "the best interest for the way points had worked." 

"They had come over and explained to us that it would be in the best interest for the way points had worked for Jane, so that we as a team can qualify two spots to the Olympics," Canadian skeleton racer Madeline Parra told The Canadian Press.

Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton (BCS) said the decision to withdraw the athletes was made "after careful evaluation of the