U.S. slides off the podium.(Sports)

Byline: GREG BOECK USA Today

CESANA PARIOL, Italy - U.S. skeleton racer Katie Uhlaender, a victim of rookie jitters, came up empty-handed in her first Olympics on Thursday and said afterward she was "relieved" a season of ill fortune and controversy for the U.S. women's skeleton team finally is over.

"I'm looking forward to seeing improvement for our team next season, like a solid head coach and a solid team," Uhlaender said after finishing sixth in the women's skeleton competition.

An ill-fated season started with Noelle Pikus-Pace, the defending World Cup champion, breaking her leg when a U.S. men's bobsled struck her in Calgary in October. In …