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Katie Eberling - Snubbed Olympic hopeful

Olympic bobsledder Katie Eberling poses for a portrait during the 2013 U.S. Olympic Team Media Summit in Park City, Utah
Olympic bobsledder Katie Eberling poses for a portrait during the 2013 U.S. Olympic Team Media Summit in Park City, Utah September 30, 2013. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT OLYMPICS BOBSLEIGH PORTRAIT) (REUTERS)
Olympic bobsledder Katie Eberling mimics the preparations she carries out before a run during the 2013 U.S. Olympic Team Media Summit in Park City, Utah
Olympic bobsledder Katie Eberling mimics the preparations she carries out before a run during the 2013 U.S. Olympic Team Media Summit in Park City, Utah September 30, 2013. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT OLYMPICS BOBSLEIGH) (REUTERS)
Olympic bobsledder Katie Eberling poses for a portrait during the 2013 U.S. Olympic Team Media Summit in Park City, Utah
Olympic bobsledder Katie Eberling poses for a portrait during the 2013 U.S. Olympic Team Media Summit in Park City, Utah September 30, 2013. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT OLYMPICS) (REUTERS)
Olympic bobsledder Katie Eberling poses for a portrait during the 2013 U.S. Olympic Team Media Summit in Park City, Utah
Olympic bobsledder Katie Eberling poses for a portrait during the 2013 U.S. Olympic Team Media Summit in Park City, Utah September 30, 2013. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT OLYMPICS) (REUTERS)
Viessmann FIBT World Cup Bob & Skeleton
WINTERBERG, GERMANY - DECEMBER 08: (L-R) Elana Meyers and Katie Eberling of United States celebrate their second place during the two women's bob competition during the FIBT Bob & Skeleton World Cup at Bobbahn Winterberg on December 8, 2012 in Winterberg, Germany. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Bongarts/Getty Images) (Bongarts/Getty Images)
Park City Bobsled and Skeleton World Cup
PARK CITY, UT - NOVEMBER 16: Jami Greubel (F) and Katie Eberling of the U.S. finish in fourth place in the FIBT women's bobsled world cup, on November 16, 2012 at Utah Olympic Park in Park City, Utah.(Photo by George Frey/Getty Images) (Getty Images)
Viessmann FIBT World Cup Bob & Skeleton
WINTERBERG, GERMANY - DECEMBER 08: Elana Meyers (R) and Katie Eberling of United States celebrate their second place during the two women's bob competition during the FIBT Bob & Skeleton World Cup at Bobbahn Winterberg on December 8, 2012 in Winterberg, Germany. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Bongarts/Getty Images) (Bongarts/Getty Images)

In January, Katie Eberling sat in a room with all the other American bobsled hopefuls and listened as the names for Team USA were called. Hers wasn't among them.

"I was completely, absolutely gutted," Eberling said by phone on Tuesday from her home in suburban Chicago. "Indescribably emotional. A very low place to be in."

What made headlines was one of the names that was called: Lolo Jones, a selection many viewed as a publicity stunt – a ratings move. For Eberling, three times a World Cup medalist this season, hearing Jones' name and not hers was just a crushing reality.
Eric Adelson