"USA" sweater on the back and starry headband in the hair, the benchmark for women's bobsleigh is all smiles after a "very beautiful week": "I feel a little overwhelmed, I'm not going to lie," she says. laughing, during an interview with AFP from Germany, where she is for the World Cup.

The 36-year-old sportswoman, originally from Calgary in western Canada, has just obtained American citizenship after two years of waiting, which should open the door to participating in the Beijing Olympics (February 4-20) .

And two days later, she climbed to the top of the podium, for the 28th World Cup victory of her career.

“It's a very great source of pride and accomplishment,” says Kaillie Humphries.

And the end for her of a period with "major ups and downs".

"I was scared"

In August 2018, she filed a complaint for moral and physical harassment against her trainer.

This marks the end of her adventure with Canada and she chooses to join the United States, which she is authorized to represent in the World Cup from 2019.

Subsequently, the independent investigation by the Canadian Bobsleigh Federation will conclude that there is insufficient evidence to establish the harassment.

"My athletic career was over in Canada," she said and "it was no longer safe for me to continue in this environment".

"I was in a situation where every day I was scared, I didn't know if I was going to get a punch in the face because I had said something not to be. . ", she says, also evoking" threats "," public humiliations ".

"I tried to speak," she continues, speaking of a "not easy decision" and lamenting the little support she has received.

Kaillie Humphries and Kaysha Love happy with their success in two-man bobsleigh in Altenberg, December 5, 2021 TOBIAS SCHWARZ AFP / Archives

Today, she dreams of a beautiful sporting revenge: in Beijing in February, she could add two Olympic medals, in monobob, a new event on the Olympic program, and in two-man bob, to her record which already includes three (gold in 2010 and 2014, bronze in 2018).

Change of mentality

On social networks, the one who won five world championship titles and four editions of the World Cup, regularly posts her training sessions.

Long blond hair on one side of her head, shaved head on the other, we see her doing push-ups in her house, training in the streets of Carlsbad, California, where she lives with her American husband.

She is now convinced that recent years have made her stronger and advocates for a sport free from tyrannical and violent coaches.

"This change is so liberating, I feel safe and carried by my current environment," she explains, referring to a recent change in mentality in sport.

"It's empowering to be with like-minded people, you feel like you can just be yourself and it pushes you to be the best you can be physically and mentally."

American bobsledder Kaillie Humphries during the bobsleigh competition in Altenberg, December 4, 2021 Tobias SCHWARZ AFP / Archives

"Everyone deserves to be treated with respect, to be in a safe environment and not to be afraid of being hit, harassed, mistreated", insists this go-getter who does not "regret any of (her) choices" and has never been cold in the eyes.

A few years ago, Kaillie Humphries fought to give more space to women in his sport.

It was at her request that the International Federation (FIBT) had opened the four-man bobsleigh event, the premier category, to women by authorizing mixed crews.

On January 17, she should know if she can go to Beijing, for a fourth Olympic participation which would already be a victory.

© 2021 AFP