"Relaxed Chaos" with Katie Uhlaender

Content Note: Please note this episode includes discussion of grief, substance use, and moments of crisis in elite sport. Please take care while listening.

Some athletes are extraordinary because they can hold pressure. The danger is that people keep asking them to hold more. In this episode of The Quiet Tension, host Dr. Sharon Chirban speaks with five-time Olympian Katie Uhlaender about the “relaxed chaos” of skeleton, and how the skill that made her extraordinary on the ice similarly helped her to move through the whiplash of grief, celebrations, loss, and advocacy.

Katie’s career has taken her through some of the most defining highs and devastating lows an athlete can face. From losing her father while on tour, to grieving friends inside the Olympic world, to missing a medal because of a doping scandal, Katie reflects on what the Olympic system gave her without neglecting its costs. Despite this, she still believes strongly in the pursuit of excellence, and as she thinks beyond the track, Katie asks for the sports world to adopt greater honesty, understanding, and stronger systems for the athletes who come next.

Listeners will hear Uhlaender talk about: 

• (02:53) Finding the “Relaxed Chaos” Zone

• (08:15) The Cost of Natural Ability

• (14:48) Grief Without Regret

• (18:10) When the System Misses the Person

• (21:22) HBO’s The Weight of Gold 

• (27:59) Losing a Medal, Finding a Voice

• (37:25) What Comes After the Track

Mental health resources:

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, support is available. In the U.S. and Canada, call or text 988 to connect with crisis support or visit 988.ca for more information. If you are outside the U.S. or Canada, please contact your local emergency number or a crisis line.

New episodes of The Quiet Tension are released every other week. If you’d like to stay updated, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen. To learn more about topics like today’s, follow Sharon on Substack or visit the show website.