Katie Eberling is pressing on in bobsled, in a new role, after not being named to the U.S. Olympic Team.
Eberling, 25, will give driving a shot in March, according to a blog post linked from her social media accounts. In January, Eberling was not picked as one of three brakemen for the U.S. Olympic Team.
The chosen three were Aja Evans, regarded then as the best brakeman, and track and field converts Lolo Jones and Lauryn Williams, in their second and first years in the sport, respectively. Eberling, who helped Elana Meyers to a world silver medal in 2013, was initially “absolutely gutted” by being left off.
She admirably, eventually accepted an offer to be an alternate and traveled to Sochi, assisting the U.S. women’s team that won silver and bronze at Sanki Sliding Center.
She didn’t want to decide on her future while in Sochi, but within a week after the Closing Ceremony decided she didn’t want to be a brakeman anymore given the circumstances of the last two months.
“I no longer want to be the girl who was snubbed by Lolo Jones, because it’s not true,” read the blog post. “What most fail to acknowledge is she had the data to support her selection and worked hard for her spot…but so did other girls. There lies the controversy; all of the brakemen selected and not selected could have been backed by different points of our selection criteria. It’s exactly why I will not move forward in this sport as a brakeman; I can’t deal with the subjective decision making and the lack of control and job security.”
Her options outside of bobsled included trying skeleton or putting her teaching degree to use. For now, she’ll try driving. It could be a tough road if she sticks with it. The other U.S. drivers — Meyers, Jamie Greubel and Jazmine Fenlator — are all continuing with the sport.
“If I don’t at least try driving, I will never truly understand it as an option,” the blog read. “I have an idea of what it takes to be a driver and the responsibilities attached, but I won’t truly comprehend it until I have the “D-rings” in my hands. I may love it or I may hate it. I may be a natural or I may be the worst person to ever try it. Point is-there is only one way to find it out.
“For now, I don’t have to commit to another four years… just to another month.”
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