Humphries (l) is marrying an American, which will make her eligible to compete for the U.S.GETTY IMAGES
Gold Medal-winning bobsledder Kaillie Humphries is in the "final stages of leaving Team Canada" to compete for the U.S. after having "asked to be released," according to Devin Heroux of CBC.ca. The move comes "more than a year after Humphries filed a harassment complaint with the national sport organization." Humphries "claims she's been waiting to be released from Bobsleigh Canada for weeks, so that she can begin training for the U.S. Team." Humphries is suing the NGB "for blocking her release from the team and breaching their contract relating to athlete and coach code of conduct." She is getting married on Saturday to an American -- making her eligible to compete under the U.S. flag -- and "plans to attend a U.S. bobsleigh training camp in Lake Placid as a guest next week" (CBC.ca, 9/12). Russell Reimer, Humphries' agent, said, "While it's not an ideal situation, the opportunity to extend her career is only made possible because she's marrying an American." Humphries carried the Canadian flag during the Closing Ceremony of the '14 Sochi Games, where she won her second straight Gold Medal in the two-woman event (CALGARY HERALD, 9/13). Humphries did "not race last season and hasn't competed in a major international race since" the '18 Pyeongchang Games. International rules state Humphries would need a release from Team Canada by Sept. 30 "to be able to compete for the U.S. this season, though it's always possible that could be appealed" (AP, 9/13).
