Georgian luger dies during Olympic training run

[dtpilot]

Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili, who suffered a horrific crash Friday in an Olympic training run at Whistler, has died, the International Olympic Committee confirmed to CBC.

Kumaritashvili was coming around the final 270-degree turn, where speeds approach 140 km/h, when he flipped off his sled and flew into a metal pole.

Medics administered CPR to the 21-year-old from Borjomi, Georgia, before he was lifted into an ambulance. An air-rescue helicopter arrived eight minutes after the crash.

Training was suspended indefinitely. Members of the International Luge Federation were called for a briefing and team captains from each country were asked to attend a meeting.

So incredibly sad. Nauseating video if any of you saw it as well.

[Jastapilot]

Very sad. Also, the IOC is actively blocking anyone who tries to post the video on the web. I guess it's all about damage control. I have to question the safety of a course that injures one racer, and kills another, all before the games start.

[MrWings]

Actually, it is more about Olympic video copyright.

CTV.ca, an Olympic broadcaster, has it on their site. But I'm warning you, I'm wishing I hadn't watched it.

Rest in Peace

[jump154]

Well, you cannot fault the Medical Response. Almost Instantaneous.

RIP.

[Jastapilot]

http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Vide ... story.html

maybe you're right.

[ScudRunner]

Pretty Shocking video wish I had not watched it on the TV. I can't understand why those pillars would be where they are completely in the open and un protected at the exit of a corner where one would think they highest risk of leaving the track would be.


Very sad way to start the games..

[Highflyinpilot]

i was just thinking that, What an odd place for steel pillars coming out of a corner like that.


RIP

[Inverted2]

The video is on liveleak if anyone wants to see it.

Those posts shouldnt have been right beside the track like that. Anyone who goes flying off that track is pretty much doomed.

[Doc]

The track is very obviously not safe. It should not be possible for an athlete to vacate under any circumstances. Safety has taken a back seat to spectacle. This is wrong. The sport is too fast for the track. They used to have deaths in auto racing, brought about by autos flying off the tracks, and into stands full of people. I feel they should admit the design is outdated, and cancel the luge competition. One death should be enough.

[2R]

The track is very obviously not safe. It should not be possible for an athlete to vacate under any circumstances. Safety has taken a back seat to spectacle. This is wrong. The sport is too fast for the track. They used to have deaths in auto racing, brought about by autos flying off the tracks, and into stands full of people. I feel they should admit the design is outdated, and cancel the luge competition. One death should be enough.

+1
I cannot believe that no one could not see the danger of having fixed steel pillars so close without any nets , deflectors,hay bails,airbags ,soft foam to slow the athlete down to a speed where he could at least compete in the paralmpics if they get off course.

[Dex]

Very chilling. I think the sound of him hitting the steel beam with the reverberation will be stuck in my head for some time. I hope something positive comes for the sport from this tragedy/loss. More safety would be a big plus.

[pika]

http://www.flirtingwithdisaster.net/ind ... age_id=278

Absolutely sickening and completely avoidable.

[shannon]

When China hosted the games I kept waiting for the hastily setup and poorly engineered infrastructure to fail. Instead our poorly designed structure has killed an athlete. I am embarrassed as a Canadian. If the same had happened in China we would have been screaming " I told you so". We spent, as I've heard one billion dollars on bullshit security and obviously very little where it belongs. I think its safe to bet that our poor engineering and planning will have killed more athletes than "terrorists".

[Sandy106]

+1
I cannot believe that no one could not see the danger of having fixed steel pillars so close without any nets , deflectors,hay bails,airbags ,soft foam to slow the athlete down to a speed where he could at least compete in the paralmpics if they get off course.

Unfortunately I saw the video as well, and at the speed he was going I seriously doubt padding would've helped. He went from ~144 kph to 0 in less than a foot, I dont think hay bales or foam would've saved him.

[pika]

Unfortunately I saw the video as well, and at the speed he was going I seriously doubt padding would've helped. He went from ~144 kph to 0 in less than a foot, I dont think hay bales or foam would've saved him.

Maybe, maybe not. If I had a choice of things to crash into at ~144kph steel pillars would not be my first choice.

Good news is the athlete is to blame but the track will be modified. I feel better already.

"The death of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili was a result of the athlete losing control of his sled and not an unsafe track, the International Luge Federation said Friday night in a statement.

The men's singles luge competition will take place as scheduled at 5 p.m. PT on Saturday, after the completion of two practice runs. The luge federation did say that open it would raise the walls at the exit of curve 16 and shave down the ice, altering the sliding lines.

"It appears after a routine run, the athlete came late out of curve 15 and did not compensate properly to make correct entrance into curve 16," the federation said in a statement. "This resulted in a late entrance into curve 16 and although the athlete worked to correct the problem he eventually lost control of the sled resulting in the tragic accident. The technical officials of the FIL were able to retrace the path of the athlete and concluded there was no indication that the accident was caused by deficiencies in the track. "

[flyinthebug]

Shocking to say the least. My condolences to this young mans friends and family. What I find so odd is the speculation already arising from this accident. It was an accident and the young man appears to have made a mistake out of turn 15. We are so quick to jump on the engineers of the track...when in all honesty it appears this young man simply misjudged and made a mistake. Why cancel the entire event that 100s have trained for many years for? What would that solve? The speeds are not excessive compared to the regular world cup circuit speeds. The vast majority of the lugers I watched interviewed stated the track was fast but also that the engineering was very good.

We cant help but feel somewhat responsible because we are likely in a form of shock over such a tragedy on our soil, at OUR games. Its truly sad, but the Olympic spirit will move on and so should we. Enjoy the games and do it in memory of this lost young man.. Im willing to bet he wouldnt want the entire event cancelled over his own (fatal) mistake.

[Dust Devil]

I think I heard somewhere yesterday that the number of crashes that have happened in the last few weeks is considered normal for a new track in the sport. Obviously not the fatality though but it does sound like it was "pilot error"

[Doc]

They're going to start from the women's start. That's a pretty good quick fix. Substantially slower, but still pretty fast. I notice, overnight plywood (perhaps slippery fiber board) has been placed in a position that wont allow anything to vacate the track in the vicinity of the steel pillars. Good idea, a day week. Sometimes, you just have to make the track a little slower. It appears this has been done. They slowed down the Texas Super Speedway. They've slowed down the luge.
Meanwhile, the men's downhill has been slowed down by mother nature, a little too much. Canceled till Monday.

[2R]

A large acrylic tube or plexiglass could have been used in that space to contain any spills to the track.
Looks like those who designed this death game did not think outside the tube in their design .

[flyinthebug]

Doc... Yes I suppose its a step in the right direction, but even the men starting from the womens start position are expected to reach 130 km/h. Do you honestly think if the exact same incident happened at 14 km/h less then he hit, that it would make a difference? I believe he would be equally dead at either speed. Its an inheriant(sp?) risk that these athletes take, and they know the consequences if they mess up. Not that dissimiliar to us as pilots is it? We take calculated risks everyday in what we do. So do these athletes.

Either way, im looking forward to all the events and some Canadian GOLD!

[Donald]

FYI: People don't tune into auto racing, men's downhill, or the luge for just a nice "safe" event.

[B-rad]

maybe I'm not completely informed on this topic but from what I gather they are saying it is the luger who is at fault and not the track?

I got to agree.. many people have gone down that track safely and many more will.. The course is not fool proof and at an Olympic level small mistakes can cost you your life in many sports. I don't blame the luger, but I don't blame the course. If I tried going down there I am sure I would kill myself and I wouldn't expect to put blame that the course was at fault. I do agree that those pillars look to be in an odd spot and a little foresight of people coming off the track at a corner is probable and this could have been prevented, but this was an accident and no one should be blamed. Poor guy, living a dream and I give him a world of respect. I would love to be able to have the chance to train at a sport and compete with speeds like he was. I hope he is well remembered through out the games.

[Jastapilot]

I see. So the olympic hockey players go into an Olympic game with the potential of dying during the competition? Barring freak accidents and your typical sports injuries, None of these athletes go into a race or any competition expecting the possibility of dying or being severely injured performing their sport.

The track wasn't built with enough safety precautions taken. Let's just say it. The designer was overzealous with his design, and pushed the limits beyond acceptable. What exactly needs to be proven here? Fastest track ever status? The point of the race is the athletes compete against each other on the same track, and the same starting gate. They shouldn't have to be concerned for merely surviving a race. This isn't the 'Running Man', people, and I thought we were smart enough to refrain from victim blaming.

[B-rad]

now your just being silly, cuz again even hockey players get injured. Dying at a hockey game? not likely, dying in a sport where you are going at highway speeds on an ice course on a skate board? if you're not expecting the possibility of dying there then you really should stay away from that one! should I even touch on skydiving?? No one is holding your hand in life, we aren't children anymore and this world is only as safe as we can make it. We push our own limits and knowingly compete on the edge of safety, when we cross those margins we pay the price. This is not the designers fault nor the athletes, it was an accident. If the course had been different, maybe the luger could have done better.. on the other hand, if the luger had done better, maybe he wouldn't of had an accident... don't be so silly to think that these things are always avoidable and that just because people train hard to be good at what they do, that they don't make mistakes too.

[Carrier]

Quote: "The track is very obviously not safe. It should not be possible for an athlete to vacate under any circumstances. Safety has taken a back seat to spectacle. This is wrong. The sport is too fast for the track. They used to have deaths in auto racing, brought about by autos flying off the tracks, and into stands full of people. I feel they should admit the design is outdated, and cancel the luge competition. One death should be enough."

Well said, Doc!" The track should be closed until serious safety modifications are made. In the meantime the current events for it should be transferred to the nearest acceptable track, presumably either Calgary or Salt Lake City.

It is known that sometimes competitors lose control and leave the track. It happens in other sports such as motor racing. Competitors accept the reasonable risks of such dangerous sports. They should not have to accept the risk of unprotected solid objects being deliberately placed where they are likely to come off the track. The designers and operators of the track should be charged with manslaughter/culpable homicide/criminal negligence or whatever.