bassman
13-Feb-2010, 01:59 PM
WHISTLER, British Columbia — A men's Olympic luger from the former Soviet republic of Georgia crashed during training and needed emergency treatment after an accident on the world's fastest track.
Officials said Nodar Kumaritashvili lost control of his sled Friday, went over the track wall and appeared to hit a steel pole near the finish line at the Whistler Sliding Center.
Rescue officials rushed to the scene and were performing chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Kumaritashvili was lifted into an ambulance. An air-rescue helicopter was summoned and was in the area over the track about eight minutes after the crash.
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.
International luge officials did not have an immediate update on his condition.
At the finish area, not far from the crash, athletes, coaches and officials awaited word on Kumaritashvili.
"I've never seen anything like that," said Shiva Keshavan, a four-time Olympian from India. "I'm afraid it's bad."
Training was suspended indefinitely. Members of the International Luge Federation were called for a briefing and team captains from each nation were asked to attend a meeting.
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 also around Curve 11. Zoeggeler came off his sled, held it with his left arm to keep it from smashing atop his body, and slid on his back down several curves before coming to a stop and walking away.
Training days in Whistler have been crash-filled, with a Romanian woman 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 — having serious trouble just getting down the track.
They say he was probably traveling around 90 mph when he hit the pole.:stunned:
Video of the fatal practice run (http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/assetid=4d69df22-dc17-4356-8385-b075a080b00a.html#graphic+content+luge+crash+from+ start)
WARNING: This is pretty violent for those with weak stomachs....
Now my question is this - why the hell don't they have some sort of railing or safety system up the sides of the track?!? This 21 year old lost his life and it could have easily been prevented...
Officials said Nodar Kumaritashvili lost control of his sled Friday, went over the track wall and appeared to hit a steel pole near the finish line at the Whistler Sliding Center.
Rescue officials rushed to the scene and were performing chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Kumaritashvili was lifted into an ambulance. An air-rescue helicopter was summoned and was in the area over the track about eight minutes after the crash.
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.
International luge officials did not have an immediate update on his condition.
At the finish area, not far from the crash, athletes, coaches and officials awaited word on Kumaritashvili.
"I've never seen anything like that," said Shiva Keshavan, a four-time Olympian from India. "I'm afraid it's bad."
Training was suspended indefinitely. Members of the International Luge Federation were called for a briefing and team captains from each nation were asked to attend a meeting.
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 also around Curve 11. Zoeggeler came off his sled, held it with his left arm to keep it from smashing atop his body, and slid on his back down several curves before coming to a stop and walking away.
Training days in Whistler have been crash-filled, with a Romanian woman 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 — having serious trouble just getting down the track.
They say he was probably traveling around 90 mph when he hit the pole.:stunned:
Video of the fatal practice run (http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/assetid=4d69df22-dc17-4356-8385-b075a080b00a.html#graphic+content+luge+crash+from+ start)
WARNING: This is pretty violent for those with weak stomachs....
Now my question is this - why the hell don't they have some sort of railing or safety system up the sides of the track?!? This 21 year old lost his life and it could have easily been prevented...