Katie Uhlaender
Encyclopedia
Katie Uhlaender (born July 17, 1984) is an American
skeleton racer
who has competed since 2003. She won four medals at the FIBT World Championships
with one silver (women's skeleton: 2008
) and three bronzes (women's skeleton: 2007
, mixed bobsleigh-skeleton team event: 2008, 2009
).
Uhlaender won the women's Skeleton World Cup title twice (2006-7
, 2007-8
). She also finished sixth in the women's skeleton event at the 2006 Winter Olympics
in Torino. She earned a medical waiver to compete in the 2009-10 Skeleton World Cup season following surgery in the wake of an April 2009 snowmobile
accident where Uhelander shattered her kneecap, and broke it again in August 2009 (having a total of four surgeries).
A native of Vail, Colorado
, Uhlaender now lives in nearby Breckenridge
. She is the daughter of the late Major League Baseball
outfielder (and former Cleveland Indians
coach) Ted Uhlaender
. In memory of her father, she wears around her neck his ring of the 1972 Cincinnati Reds season
in which the Reds won the National League pennant
.
It was announced on 16 January 2010 that Uhleander qualified for the 2010 Winter Olympics
in Vancouver
where she finished 11th.
She is now also training for the 2012 Olympics London, in the sport of Olympic Weight Lifting.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
skeleton racer
Skeleton (sport)
Skeleton is a fast winter sliding sport in which an individual person rides a small sled down a frozen track while lying face down, during which athletes experience forces up to 5g. It originated in St. Moritz, Switzerland as a spin-off from the popular British sport of Cresta Sledding...
who has competed since 2003. She won four medals at the FIBT World Championships
FIBT World Championships
The FIBT World Championships, part of the Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing , have taken place on an annual basis in non-Winter Olympic years since 1930. A two-man event was included in 1931 with a combined championship occurring in 1947...
with one silver (women's skeleton: 2008
FIBT World Championships 2008
The FIBT World Championships 2008 ran February 11–24, 2008 in Altenberg, Germany for the fifth time, having done so in 1991 , 1994 , 1999 , and 2000 . It is the first time Altenberg has hosted all of the events at one championship...
) and three bronzes (women's skeleton: 2007
FIBT World Championships 2007
The FIBT World Championships 2007 took place in St. Moritz, Switzerland for the record twenty-first time, doing so previously in 1931 , 1935 , 1937 , 1938 , 1939 , 1947, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1965, 1970, 1974, 1977, 1982, 1987, 1989 , 1990 , 1997 , 1998 , and 2001...
, mixed bobsleigh-skeleton team event: 2008, 2009
FIBT World Championships 2009
The FIBT World Championships 2009, officially known as the Bauhaus FIBT Bobsleigh & Skeleton World Championships, 20 February to 1 March 2009 at the bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track in Lake Placid, New York for the ninth time, doing so previously in 1949, 1961, 1969, 1973, 1978, 1983, 1997 , and...
).
Uhlaender won the women's Skeleton World Cup title twice (2006-7
2007 Skeleton World Cup
The 2007 Skeleton World Cup is a multi race tournament over a season for skeleton. The season started on 27 November 2006 and ended on 25 February 2007. The World Cup is organised by the FIBT who also run world cups and championships in bobsleigh.- Men :-Women:...
, 2007-8
2007-08 Skeleton World Cup
The 2007–2008 Skeleton World Cup is a multi race tournament over a season for skeleton. The season started on 26 November 2007 and ended on 24 February 2008. The World Cup is organised by the FIBT who also run world cups and championships in bobsleigh....
). She also finished sixth in the women's skeleton event at the 2006 Winter Olympics
2006 Winter Olympics
The 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006. This marked the second time Italy hosted the Olympic Winter Games, the first being the VII Olympic Winter...
in Torino. She earned a medical waiver to compete in the 2009-10 Skeleton World Cup season following surgery in the wake of an April 2009 snowmobile
Snowmobile
A snowmobile, also known in some places as a snowmachine, or sled,is a land vehicle for winter travel on snow. Designed to be operated on snow and ice, they require no road or trail. Design variations enable some machines to operate in deep snow or forests; most are used on open terrain, including...
accident where Uhelander shattered her kneecap, and broke it again in August 2009 (having a total of four surgeries).
A native of Vail, Colorado
Vail, Colorado
The Town of Vail is a Home Rule Municipality in Eagle County, Colorado, United States. The population of the town was 4,589 in 2005. The town was established and built as the base village to Vail Ski Resort, with which it was originally conceived...
, Uhlaender now lives in nearby Breckenridge
Breckenridge, Colorado
Established in 1859, the historic town of Breckenridge is a home rule municipality that is the county seat of Summit County, Colorado, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the town had a population of 4,540. The town also has many part-time residents, as many people have vacation homes in the area...
. She is the daughter of the late Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
outfielder (and former Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
coach) Ted Uhlaender
Ted Uhlaender
Theodore Otto Uhlaender was a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Minnesota Twins, Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds from –. He was also the father of Olympic women's skeleton competitor Katie Uhlaender.Signed by the Twins out of Baylor University in 1961, he made his major league...
. In memory of her father, she wears around her neck his ring of the 1972 Cincinnati Reds season
1972 Cincinnati Reds season
The Cincinnati Reds season consisted of the Reds winning the National League West title with a record of 95-59, 10½ games over the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Dodgers. They defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1972 National League Championship Series, but lost to the Oakland Athletics in...
in which the Reds won the National League pennant
1972 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 7, 1972 at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaThe Reds got a first-inning homer from second baseman Joe Morgan to take a short-lived 1–0 lead. But Pittsburgh bounced back with three in the bottom of the inning, highlighted by an RBI triple from Al Oliver and...
.
It was announced on 16 January 2010 that Uhleander qualified for the 2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
where she finished 11th.
She is now also training for the 2012 Olympics London, in the sport of Olympic Weight Lifting.