Katie F. Eberling (born August 7, 1988) is an American retired bobsledder.[1] She medaled at the 2012 and 2013 FIBT World Championships, and was an alternate on the United States team at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | August 7, 1988 | |||||||||||||||||
| Education | Western Michigan University (BS) | |||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||
| Country |  United States | |||||||||||||||||
| Sport |  Bobsleigh | |||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Raised in Palos Hills, Illinois, Eberling attended Amos Alonzo Stagg High School before playing four seasons of volleyball for the Western Michigan Broncos.[2] She graduated from the university in April 2011 with a Bachelor of Science degree in early childhood education.[3][4] In December 2010, Elana Meyers reached out to Eberling to recruit her for bobsled tryouts. In 2011, Eberling began training in the sport.[5][6]
Eberling began her bobsled career as a brakeman.[7] She was the 2011 United States bobsled push champion.[4] At the FIBT World Championships 2012, she placed third in the two-woman bobsleigh with Elana Taylor as driver. In 2013, the same duo won a silver medal at the World Championships.[1] That year, the U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation named Eberling the women's bobsled athlete of the year.[8]
In April 2013, Eberling, a lifelong Chicago Cubs fan, threw the ceremonial first pitch at a Cubs game.[9][10]
In January 2014, the U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation announced their picks for the Team USA delegation to the 2014 Winter Olympics; Eberling was not named. Track and field athlete Lolo Jones was chosen as the third-pick brakeman in place of Eberling, who was made an alternate.[11] Selena Roberts, writing for USA Today, described Eberling's cut as a "snub" while other journalists called the decision a publicity stunt, arguing Eberling was more qualified than Jones.[12][13] She traveled with the team to Sochi, Russia, and practiced as a backup athlete. Following the Olympics, because of the "subjective decision-making and the lack of control" she faced as a brakeman, Eberling switched to competing as a driver.[14][15]
She announced her retirement from bobsledding in 2017 following an injury of two hamstring tears during a preseason camp.[16][17] She was in contention for a place as a driver on the Olympic team to the 2018 Winter Olympics until her injury.[17]
References
edit- 1 2 "Katie Eberling". International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
- ↑ "Katie Eberling". Women's Volleyball. Western Michigan University Athletics. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
- ↑ "Western Michigan University Bachelor of Science candidates (last names A–F) for April 30 commencement". Kalamazoo Gazette. April 30, 2011. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
- 1 2 "Going to Sochi". WMU Alumni. Western Michigan University. January 22, 2014. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
- ↑ St. Clair, Stacy (January 16, 2014). "Katie Eberling came to bobsledding late, then got on the fast track". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
- ↑ "Catching up with Katie Eberling". USA Bobsled-Skeleton. April 20, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
- ↑ "WMU Vball Alum Katie Eberling Interview". Western Michigan Broncos. September 29, 2011 [2011-09-13]. Retrieved January 14, 2026 – via YouTube.
- ↑ Puca, Deanne (August 13, 2013). "Alumna honored as bobsled athlete". News. Western Michigan University. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
- ↑ "First pitch". WMU Alumni. Western Michigan University. April 17, 2013. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
- ↑ Drew, David (April 12, 2013). "Former WMU volleyball player and World Championship silver medalist Katie Eberling throws first pitch at Chicago Cubs game". MLive. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
- ↑ Bird, Amanda; Kanan, Mat (January 22, 2014). "Katie Eberling named alternate for Olympic Bobsled Team". Western Michigan University Athletics. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
- ↑ Roberts, Selena (January 23, 2014). "Commentary: NBC gets its wish – Lolo Jones back in the Olympics". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
- ↑ Adelson, Eric (February 27, 2014). "Katie Eberling – Snubbed Olympic hopeful". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
- ↑ Zaccardi, Nick (February 28, 2014). "Katie Eberling to try driving after missing Olympics as brakeman". NBC Sports. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
- ↑ Baranek, Tony (April 4, 2016). "Stagg grad Katie Eberling keeps driving toward Olympic bobsled dream". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
- ↑ "US pilot Katie Eberling retires". International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation. September 27, 2017. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
- 1 2 Zaccardi, Nick (October 3, 2017). "Katie Eberling at peace with bobsled retirement". NBC Sports. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
Further reading
edit- Morgan, Paul (November 27, 2011). "Former WMU volleyball player Katie Eberling digging deeper for spot on U.S. Olympic Bobsled Team". Kalamazoo Gazette.
- Rosati, Allison (February 7, 2014). "Katie Eberling heads to Sochi as bobsled alternate". NBC Chicago.
- St. Clair, Stacy (January 16, 2014). "'Crazy' offer could lead to Olympics". Chicago Tribune.
- St. Clair, Stacy (February 16, 2014). "Katie Eberling living in Olympic alternate limbo". Chicago Tribune.
