Current world monobob champion Kaillie Humphries released to play Beijing Winter Games representing the colors of the United States.
Humphries was sworn in as a U.S. citizen in San Diego, ending the process of competing for the United States at the Olympics.
She doesn’t have a passport yet, but it’s probably just a formality.
Previously, Humphries defended Canada in monobob competitions and won three Olympic medals, including two gold.
Possession as a US citizen puts an end to a hectic process and this final chapter has been tiring for the athlete, who took part in the World Cup stop in Austria last weekend and then surrendered in Altenberg, Germany, completed the two training runs necessary to qualify for the World Cup Races, he made a 5 hour trip to Frankfurt, flew to San Diego for his citizenship reunion, then returned to Germany.
The athlete was granted the right to compete across the United States in September 2019, after a long dispute with Canadian authorities over reports of verbal abuse, mental abuse and harassment.
The option to represent the United States, according to the athlete, was a necessary choice for his physical and mental safety, despite all the risks of staying out of Beijing 2022.
The athlete has as main achievements: five world championships, 54 World Cup medals, including 27 gold and is also the only female pilot with two Olympic gold medals.
Humphries was allowed to compete in the World Cup and the World Cup in the sport because different rules apply in those situations. The federation of Canada released the athlete in 2019, paving the way for him to compete for another country. But Olympic rules are stricter and require that on almost all occasions an athlete has the passport of the country he represents.
The International Olympic Committee could have waived this rule, but gave no indication that it would.
Now the likely US monobob team has two athletes who could win medals, Humphries and Elana Meyeres Taylor.
Photo: United States Team
“Coffeeaholic. Lifelong alcohol fanatic. Typical travel expert. Prone to fits of apathy. Internet trailblazer.”