[iuopyra]

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/new...v=st&type=lgns


VANCOUVER, British Columbia(AP)—A men’s luger from the former Soviet republic of Georgia died Friday after a crash during training, an Olympic official with direct knowledge of the situation said. The death cast a shocking pall over the Vancouver Olympics hours before the opening ceremony.

The official told The Associated Press that the International Olympic Committee received confirmation of Nodar Kumaritashvili’s death. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the 21-year-old luger’s family hadn’t been notified yet.


There was no immediate comment from Vancouver organizers, international luge officials or the International Olympic Committee. At the Whistler track, officials said the IOC and VANOC were preparing a joint statement to be released Friday afternoon.

Kumaritashvili lost control of his sled, went over the track wall and struck an unpadded steel pole near the finish line at Whistler Sliding Center.

Rescue workers were at his side within seconds, chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation started less than one minute after the crash, and he was quickly airlifted to a trauma center in Whistler.

Kumaritashvili struck the inside wall of the track on the final turn. His body immediately went airborne and cleared the ice-coated concrete wall along the left side of the sliding surface. His sled remained in the track, and it appeared his helmet visor skidded down the ice.

“It’s a very rare situation,” three-time Olympic champion and German coach Georg Hackl said before news of Kumaritashvili’s death broke, clearly shaken moments after seeing Kumaritashvili tended to furiously by medical officials.

Olympic competition in men’s luge is scheduled to begin Saturday. It’s unclear if that schedule would be affected.

It was unclear how fast Kumaritashvili was going, although many sliders have exceeded 90 mph on this course. The track is considered the world’s fastest and several Olympians recently questioned its safety. More than a dozen athletes have crashed during Olympic training for luge, and some questioned whether athletes from smaller nations - like Georgia - had enough time to prepare for the daunting track.

At the finish area, not far from where Kumaritashvili lost control, athletes, coaches and officials solemnly awaited word on Kumaritashvili before eventually being ushered away. Access to the crash area was closed within about 30 minutes.
“I’ve never seen anything like that,” said Shiva Keshavan, a four-time Olympian from India.

The remainder of men’s training was canceled for the day, with VANOC officials saying in a release that an investigation was taking place to “ensure a safe field of play.”

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

Earlier in the day, gold-medal favorite Armin Zoeggeler of Italy crashed, losing control of his sled on Curve 11. Zoeggeler came off his sled and held it with his left arm to keep it from smashing atop his body. He slid on his back down several curves before coming to a stop and walking away.

Training days in Whistler have been crash-filled. A Romanian woman was briefly knocked unconscious and at least four Americans - Chris Mazdzer on Wednesday, Megan Sweeney on Thursday and both Tony Benshoof and Bengt Walden on Friday in the same training session where Zoeggeler wrecked - have had serious trouble just getting down the track.

“I think they are pushing it a little too much,” Australia’s Hannah Campbell-Pegg said Thursday night after she nearly lost control in training. “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.”

AP Sports Writers Tim Reynolds and Tom Withers in Whistler contributed to this report.

[MariaBeautys]

There was talk before that the track was unsafe. I don't see this ending well (yes, I know it can't end well to begin with since a guy died, but you know what I mean).

[BadbarmrapBef]

There was talk before that the track was unsafe. I don't see this ending well (yes, I know it can't end well to begin with since a guy died, but you know what I mean).

the wall on that straight-away was obviously too low coming right outta that turn. this kinda thing cant happen.

[Breeriacoirl]

They just showed footage of the crash on TSN. I can't believe they aired it. Pretty disturbing.

[popandopulus]

They just showed footage of the crash on TSN. I can't believe they aired it. Pretty disturbing.

I saw it as well...yikes. Didn't even know what I was watching until after. Very sad.

[JacksHH]

They just showed footage of the crash on TSN. I can't believe they aired it. Pretty disturbing.

Totally unrelated, pretty cool to see James Duthie getting some Olympic props.

[gamblingstats]

Jesus Christ. The pictures I just saw on a few websites are pretty damn graphic -- including close-ups of the decedent's face while they initiate CPR.

[Inonanialry]

just caught the video on the opening ceremonies, why the fuck aren't those poles padded? not that it would've helped much going 88 mph, but still.

[Abaanto]

just caught the video on the opening ceremonies, why the fuck aren't those poles padded? not that it would've helped much going 88 mph, but still.

It would have been better to have that wall go up another 6 inches to a foot.

[BitStillrhile]

Going about 90 mph into a steel pillar isn't going to end well if it is padded or not. The wall is clearly too low for the speeds these guys are generating going into the 13th turn.

[paydayus]

It would have been better to have that wall go up another 6 inches to a foot.

or several feet

i really don't understand how they can have those posts exposed so close to the track

[cenRealliat]

Track is closed due to an investigation. We might not see luge in the Olympics this time around if it stays closed.

[bUqLfXRI]

i blame canada.

[MaigicyuNinia]

i blame canada.

Post of the day.

[Marinausa]

i'm as sarcastic as they come, but you are some sick pieces of shit making fun of someone dying.

[KasaBalak]

i'm as sarcastic as they come, but you are some sick pieces of shit making fun of someone dying.

I think he was making fun of the IOC and the track, not the death of a luger.

Btw....

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100213/...im_litke021210

[HOTgirlsXXL]

or several feet

i really don't understand how they can have those posts exposed so close to the track

there is no reason to have anything exposed that close to a turn that far into the run. its like a bunch of fucking Tip Top carnies put this track together.

[topcasinobonua]

there is no reason to have anything exposed that close to a turn that far into the run. its like a bunch of fucking Tip Top carnies put this track together.

The lip that sticks out after that turn is gonna wreak havoc throughout this Olympics.

They showed the video of it down here on the 10PM news and Interviewed an American female luge Olympian and she said the lugers weren't given enough time to run the course prior to the Olympics.

Keep in mind this was that guy's practice run and it was on the day of the Opening Ceremony.

[DavidShreder]

But the International Luge Federation and Vancouver Olympic officials said their investigation showed that the crash was the result of human error and that “there was no indication that the accident was caused by deficiencies in the track.”


Men lugers, who were scheduled to finish training Friday morning, will get two extra practice runs Saturday. Women will train four hours later than scheduled. Men’s competition will be held later in the day as planned.

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/van...v=ap&type=lgns

[JonnLeejsp]

But the International Luge Federation and Vancouver Olympic officials said their investigation showed that the crash was the result of human error and that “there was no indication that the accident was caused by deficiencies in the track.”


Men lugers, who were scheduled to finish training Friday morning, will get two extra practice runs Saturday. Women will train four hours later than scheduled. Men’s competition will be held later in the day as planned.

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/van...v=ap&type=lgns

And yet they ve added a whole lot of wall over night... If the track wasnt at fault, why add on the extra wall?