Olympic luger Nodar Kumaritashvili dies after crash

[Titch]

The death of a luge competitor who left the track at high speed has cast a shadow over the Winter Olympics in Canada ahead of the opening ceremony.


Georgian Nodar Kumaritashvili's sled flipped and he smashed into a steel pole at the Whistler Sliding Centre.


An Olympic official later confirmed the 21-year-old had died as a result.
Training was immediately suspended after the accident, which happened just hours before the ceremony to open the 21st Winter Games in

Vancouver.


Kumaritashvili's sled struck the inside of the track's last turn during his sixth and final training run, sending his body into the air and over a concrete wall.


His sled remained on the track, and the visor from his helmet appeared to continue down the ice.


"Georgian slider Nodar Kumaritashvili has had a serious crash in the final run of official training for the men's singles on Friday," said an official statement initially released.


"He fell out of the track when he crashed. He was treated on site by medical staff who administered CPR, and was then taken away in an ambulance."


The Georgian Olympic delegation later confirmed Kumaritashvili, part of a seven-strong team, had died as a result of his injuries, and suggested the country may subsequently withdraw from the Games.


"We are all in deep shock, we don't know what to do. We don't know whether to take part in the opening ceremony or even the Olympic Games themselves," said delegation head Irakly Japaridze.


"Kumaritashvili was clearly nervous going down the final run, you could see his head sticking up," said BBC Sport's Colin Bryce, a former British bobsleigh competitor.


"He was very scared going down the fast corners.


"It's up to the organisers whether there is such a small percentage chance of that happening again that we continue with the race, or whether we stop."


The track at Whistler, which is shared by the sports of luge, skeleton and bobsleigh, already has a reputation as one of the fastest - and most dangerous - in the world.


In the build-up to the Games several teams had raised concerns about the safety of athletes, who regularly exceed 90mph as they compete, though Kumaritashvili crashed at a corner which had not been previously identified as a danger area.


Before the incident, British skeleton slider Amy Williams told BBC Sport: "I just hope Whistler is safe and that there aren't too many crashes and serious injuries."


Australia's Hannah Campbell-Pegg added: "I think they are pushing it a little too much.


"To what extent are we just little lemmings that they just throw down a track and we're crash-test dummies? I mean, this is our lives."
Their comments followed earlier accidents, including one involving gold medal favourite Armin Zoeggeler of Italy and several during women's luge training runs on Wednesday.


Among those to crash was Romania's Violeta Stramaturaru, who was knocked unconscious for a few minutes and taken to hospital.
British skeleton's performance director, Andi Schmid, said a lack of track time for athletes in the run-up to the Games had increased the risk of accidents.


"I would say especially for speed sports you need to have more access to tracks and whoever organises the Olympics needs to offer that," said Schmid during preparations for the Games.


"Not only so that everyone has a fair chance but also because of the danger. We need to be careful so that these sports stay great action sports and don't become dangerous killer sports.


"I'm not saying that will happen but some athletes from other nations are less experienced."


Kumaritashvili competed in five World Cup races this season, finishing 44th in the world standings.


Members of the International Luge Federation were asked to attend a briefing following the crash, and team captains from each nation attended an emergency meeting.


Prior to the Vancouver Games, no Winter Olympic athlete had been killed during an event.


But the 1964 Games in Innsbruck were overshadowed by the deaths of two competitors before it began.


British luger Kazimierz Kay-Skrzypeski was killed during practice two weeks before on the Igls Olympic track, and Australian skier Ross Milne was died during training for the same Games.


A minute's silence for the pair was observed at the opening ceremony.

I myself watch luge ALOT and every time they hit this track there are worries about the safety and this will have a major impact on the Olympics.


R.I.P x

Edited by Catzsy (Forum Moderator): Thread closed to off-topic posting and arguements.

[Black_Apalachi]

It's horrible this. They showed the start of a run on the news and for a second I was scared in case they were about to continue to the accident. Anyway I think this is the first such accident I've ever heard of within these sleigh sports which is quite surprising. Really sad news though

[Mathew]

A video showing him flipping off the track is on LiveLeak (as everything else is). It was bound to happen, the speed they go on ICE is crazy.. just hours before the opening ceremony too

RIP.

[Jack.Lfc]

How did this pass safety regulations, ridiculus surely everywhere round the thing should be padded and he would have got off with a few bruises.

theres also horrible pic's of it going round too.

r.i.p

[Niall!]

You know what they say, you win some, you luge some.

[Pix]

I saw the vid like 5 mins ago and it was so sad, altough i did think he could of survived that but im guessing the speed was just too fast.

[-Heart]

I saw the vid like 5 mins ago and it was so sad, altough i did think he could of survived that but im guessing the speed was just too fast.

Link??

[Meree.]

This is terrible R.I.P xo

[today]

You know what they say, you win some, you luge some.

that kinda made me lol.

Edited by iAdam (Forum Super Moderator); Please do not post pointlessly.

[Niall!]

that kinda made me lol.

I guess you could say it was for the best, his life was always going

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down-hill

Edited by Catzsy(Forum Moderator): Please do not make pointless posts that could offend. Thanks.