U.S. Olympic bobsledder Kris Horn has formally requested a spot in the two-man race at the upcoming Milan Cortina Games. Concurrently, Irish luge athlete Elsa Desmond and U.S. skeleton competitor Katie Uhlaender have filed appeals with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) regarding their Olympic eligibility. These developments come as the athletes seek to secure their positions for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Horn’s appeal is currently being prepared, while CAS has acknowledged that both Desmond and Uhlaender have submitted their appeals as well. Horn has already qualified for the four-man bobsled event but is advocating for the opportunity to compete in the two-man race as well. This season, he participated in only four two-man races, which is one less than the minimum required for Olympic eligibility, largely due to the World Cup schedule that featured only seven two-man races instead of the typical eight.
The United States is permitted to enter two sleds in the two-man Olympic race, increasing the stakes for Horn’s appeal.
Irish Luge Athlete Challenges Qualification Decision
Desmond’s appeal to CAS targets the International Luge Federation, arguing that she was “unlawfully deprived” of a qualifying spot for the Olympics. She asserts that the federation failed to allocate a remaining qualification place and improperly assigned spots to athletes with Individual Neutral Athlete (AIN) status.
Having competed in the 2022 Olympics, Desmond was next in line to secure a spot in the 25-woman singles luge field. This field includes a Russian athlete granted neutral status, which has sparked controversy. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has allocated a total of 106 spots for luge athletes across various disciplines, yet only 105 athletes have been confirmed, raising questions about the allocation process.
Uhlaender’s Appeal Against Canadian Sliding Federation
Uhlaender is also pursuing her appeal against the Canadian sliding federation, Canadian coach Joe Cecchini, and the International Bobsled and Skeleton Federation (IBSF). She claims her chances were undermined by Canada’s withdrawal of four sliders from a North American Cup race in Lake Placid, New York, earlier this month. This decision resulted in fewer ranking points being available, which could have significantly impacted her Olympic qualification.
Uhlaender contends that she could have gained as many as 30 additional points, which would have improved her standing in comparison to U.S. slider Mystique Ro. Ro earned the second Olympic spot allocated to the Americans for the women’s skeleton event, finishing just ahead of Uhlaender, who competed on lower tours after not qualifying for the U.S. World Cup team last fall.
In her appeal, Uhlaender is requesting full ranking points for the race held on January 11, asserting that the event’s circumstances violated the Olympic Movement Code regarding competition manipulation.
The IBSF has already conducted an investigation and found no violations of the rules, a ruling that the IOC supported when the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee sought an additional spot for Uhlaender earlier this month.
As these appeals unfold, the outcomes could significantly impact the athletes’ Olympic aspirations and the integrity of the qualification process for the upcoming Winter Games.
