Katie UHLAENDER

Katie Uhlaender won the USA women’s skeleton title in 2003 and 2004, and in 2004 added a silver medal at the Junior World Championships. She later won four medals at the World Championships, taking silver in the women’s event in 2008, bronze for women in 2007, and bronzes in the mixed team event in both 2008 and 2009. Uhlaender came from an athletic family, as her father, Ted Uhlaender, played outfield for the Cincinnati Reds in the major leagues, and was later a coach with the Cleveland Indians. In April 2009, Katie Uhlaender shattered her kneecap in a snowmobiling accident and required eight surgeries on that knee, but she made an amazing recovery to compete at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

Uhlaender also competes at a high-level in weightlifting, placing third at the USA Nationals in the women’s 63-kilogram division. Through 2011, she continued to compete in both sports, attempting to make the summer and winter Olympic teams in two widely disparate sports, and in 2012 she won the skeleton World Championship.