WHISTLER, Canada, Feb 12, (AFP): Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili was killed in a horror crash in training at the Vancouver Winter Olympics on Friday after he was thrown from his sled at high-speed before smashing into a metal pillar.
“It is a tragedy for his family and the team,” said Thomas Bach, the IOC vice-president. “It casts a shadow over the opening ceremony.”
The 21-year-old Kumaritashvili suffered the crash during his second training run at one of the fastest points near the bottom of the track at the Whistler Sliding Centre on the final 270-degree turn.
He crashed into both sides of the wall before being hurled over the top of the banking. Witnesses said Kumaritashvili then hit a metal pole on the side after travelling at 148km an hour on a track widely-regarded as the fastest in the sport.
Kumaritashvili, who was knocked unconscious, was immediately placed on a stretcher with blood pouring from his face and airlifted to hospital.
Earlier in the week, other competitors admitted the course was one of the most challenging.
US luger Tony Benshoof, who was fourth at the 2006 Olympics in Turin, said lugers were close to reaching a speed ceiling.
“We’re really close. The tracks are getting faster and faster. It’s getting pretty crazy. There’s that word (dangerous), it’s like that word ‘fear’,” said Benshoof.
“It’s getting down to that. I mean, a 100mph is pretty quick. I don’t know how much faster we can go.”
And he spoke of the dangers to less-experienced athletes in the luge.
“Absolutely. They just don’t have the experience, they don’t have the coaching, sometimes they don’t have the sleds.
“But at the end of the day, we’re all going out there and doing it. I’m sure it’s going to be fine. I mean, all sports are dangerous. Alpine skiing is dangerous. I’m not going to try downhill.” One of the favourites also got a scare on Friday with 2002 and 2006 gold medalist Armin Zoeggler of Italy crashing. Training for the luge, which was due to hold its medal race on Sunday, was immediately cancelled in the wake of the tragedy.
On Wednesday there were several crashes during women’s training runs.
Romania’s Violeta Stramaturaru crashed and was knocked unconscious for a few minutes and was taken to the hospital.
Meanwhile, International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge said Friday the death of Georgian luger Kumaritashvili was a tragedy and had cast a shadow over the Vancouver Winter Olympics.
“Our first thoughts are with the family, friends and colleagues of the athlete,” said Rogge. “The whole Olympic Family is struck by this tragedy which clearly casts a shadow over these Games.”
International Luge Federation president Josef Fendt joined Rogge in offering his sympathies.
“This is a terrible accident. This is the very gravest thing that can happen in sport, and our thoughts and those of the ‘luge family’, are naturally with those touched by this event,” he said.