Georgian luger killed in training accident - RIP but was it avoidable ?

Pacing Mule

Source

It's a long article so feel free to skip to the end ( TLDR artists will have a field day if I don't say that ) but the basic story is the poor chap has died in an accident before the winter olympics. The accident came after a string of other accidents on the course and a load of teams voicing concerns for the safety of competitors. My condolences to his family and friends. I'm just wondering if a host of professional athletes - experts in their fields are saying a course seems unsafe why wasn't something done about it ?

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.
Medical staff at the track and doctors at a local hospital tried to resuscitate Kumaritashvili, part of a seven-strong Georgian team, but the country's Olympic delegation later confirmed he had died as a result of his injuries.
"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.
"This tragedy casts a shadow over these Games," said International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge, while International Luge Federation chief Josef Fendt said the incident was "the gravest thing that can happen in sport".
The IOC confirmed an investigation had been launched and technical officials were trying to establish the cause of the crash.
BBC Sport's Colin Bryce, a former British bobsleigh competitor, said Kumaritashvili was "clearly nervous going down the final run - you could see his head sticking up."
Bryce added: "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."
BBC Sport understands organisers currently expect the Olympic luge competition, scheduled to begin on Saturday, to continue after team leaders met and agreed not to abandon it.

But top IOC officials are heading to Whistler and may reverse that decision.
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."
To what extent are we just little lemmings that they throw down a track? I mean, this is our lives


Hannah Campbell-Pegg, Australian luger

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.
The track is where British competitor Adam Rosen crashed during training in October last year. He suffered a dislocated hip as well as nerve and tendon damage.
After intensive rehabilitation, Rosen made the team for his second Winter Games and was taking part in the same training session when Kumaritashvili crashed
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.
He had already crashed in the second of his six training runs, emerging shaken but unhurt. His average speed in others runs - 88mph, - was considerably less than speeds achieved by top competitors so far.
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 died during training for the same Games.
A minute's silence for the pair was observed at the opening ceremony.

PirateShampoo

We could send over Gay Byrne and let him run amok over there for a few weeks and give us a break.

Buford T Justice

You were right OP

tl;dr

My name is URL

Video here

It's not very graphic, but it shows how dangerous that part of the course is

bonerm

These downhill winter-sports are just fraught with accidents

Pacing Mule

Fingers McGee wrote: »

You were right OP

tl;dr

Least I put mine in before anyone got to it. Have never ever understood the point of throwing in TLDR appearing directly after you've just read what you're then being advised is too long.

Run_to_da_hills

RIP

Georgian luger

Pacing Mule

My name is URL wrote: »

Video here

It's not very graphic, but it shows how dangerous that part of the course is

Jesus Christ - why would you place a load of steel poles there ??? By all means hold up the roof etc again pre empting the inevitable smart ass comment but from a safety point of view that's lunacy.

Pride Fighter

Like most winter olympic venues its brand new or modified from what it was. The host nation, Canada, refused to allow any team use it except their own, giving the Canadian bobledders, skeleton and lugers and unfair advantage. As a result when teams had the chance to use it they would have to just jump into high-speed practice instead of slower practices a few weeks beforehand which they could not due to the Canadians hogging the course.

The Canadians are obviously more concerned with medals than people.

connundrum

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

RIP

Georgian luger

I read the thread title and thought 'wouldn't it be great if this guy was actually from Georgia too!!'

Sigh

Pacing Mule

Just reading the comments in the thread under the video posted by my name is Url and I actually can't believe what I'm reading. Seemingly due to the lobbying of the environmentalists who didn't want some trees cut down the design of the track was forced to have those poles so close to the course. Nice one lads.

My name is URL

Pageant Messiah wrote: »

Jesus Christ - why would you place a load of steel poles there ??? By all means hold up the roof etc again pre empting the inevitable smart ass comment but from a safety point of view that's lunacy.

It's pretty mental. I've seen poles before on courses but I don't think they're ever put so close to the exit of a bend like that

Canis Lupus

I enjoy watching winter sports, possibly more than the 'proper' olympics. I'm not an afficiando by any stretch of the imagination but watching the video above I can't help but wonder how not a single member of the construction team of that track said "eh, lads, these really hard poles here, at this sharp bend. Ya, these poles.... Do ya think they might be, you know, a bit dangerous???

Anyway, poor fella.

MagicMarker

My name is URL wrote: »

Video here

It's not very graphic, but it shows how dangerous that part of the course is

Holy crap, that's some serious speed! Apparently he crashed last week as well.

Ronan Keating

<SNiP>

link to image removed - reported as graphic

Mr. Incognito

Ah well he knew the risks.

It's not some fella that was crossing the road and run over.

He choose to embark in a sport that lives on insane risk and these things happen from time to time.

RIP dude.

Pacing Mule

Really think that those pics are a bit much Ronan Keating

bonerm

<Snip>
Am I hallucinating or did that pix change from a full view of his bloodied face to that one of his face covered by an oxygen mask?

Spear

bonerm wrote: »

Am I hallucinating or did that pix change from a full view of his bloodied face to that one of his face covered by an oxygen mask?

You're hallucinating, it's two separate pics on two separate links in two separate posts.

<SNiP>

http://images.huffingtonpost.com/gen/140780/NODAR-KUMARITASHVILI-CRASH-LUGE-OLYMPICS.jpg

Ronan Keating

bonerm wrote: »

Am I hallucinating or did that pix change from a full view of his bloodied face to that one of his face covered by an oxygen mask?

Yea. Poor lad.

bonerm

Spear wrote: »

You're hallucinating, it's two separate pics on two separate links in two separate posts.

<SNiP>

Phew! That's ok then.

First thing I thought was, why the f**k are those steel things so close to that bend? Surely that's just asking for trouble?

uncle-mofo

Ronan Keating wrote: »

Yea. Poor lad.

<Snip>


I know it's After Hours and all, but jesus, have some respect. This guy just died in a tragic accident. Rest in peace, don't want to be cliché but he died doing what he loved.

Sharpshooter

No more links please.

Cookie_Monster

Sharpshooter wrote: »

No more links please.

why, its a valid news story?

:mad:


and it probably was funny

df1985

my god, thats some speed, i wonder wil many competitors pull out now??

Pacing Mule

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

why, its a valid news story?

:mad:


and it probably was funny

It was pics of the guy in question dying

Not funny

Not neccessary

Not anything near valid.

Sharpshooter

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

why, its a valid news story?

:mad:


and it probably was funny

Because the links myself and trout removed were of Georgian in his dying moments.

I know this is AHs but just NO to that sort of thing.

/and it wasn't funny at all.

Kivaro

Good God, it was not funny at all.
It's a pity what some people say in order to appear 'cool' around here.

The first thing I noticed were the steel beams. Don't even know if they were padded, would he survive. But THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN PADDED, or it should have been designed another way.

RIP to a fella living his dream.

Run_to_da_hills

Kivaro wrote: »

Good God, it was not funny at all.
It's a pity what some people say in order to appear 'cool' around here.

The first thing I noticed were the steel beams. Don't even know if they were padded, would he survive. But THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN PADDED, or it should have been designed another way.

RIP to a fella living his dream.

Looking at pictures of the post in the press there should be no posts at all, a padded post would still break your neck at 90mph.

I'm surprised there was not a continuous smooth wall but there is also a balance between protection and the ability to view those participating in the sport.

Buceph

This is supposedly one of the most challenging courses in the world. The Georgian guy had only been in the sport for two years. I'd question even letting someone with such a small amount of experience compete at a high level where people push themselves as hard as possible. He might have been very good at it, when things were going well. But he wouldn't have had the same natural reactions of someone who has been competing in the sport since they were a child.

Son Of A Vidic

Poor soul that's tragic, but the fcuking saps who designed the course, did they not do a risk assessment?

Surely there could have at least been some sort of higher rim at that bend. I mean from the looks of it momentum-wise I don't see how this *wasn't* going to happen eventually.

Not that I know anything about bob sleighing.

Ronan Keating

Did he whack his head of the pillar?

robinph

Buceph wrote: »

This is supposedly one of the most challenging courses in the world. The Georgian guy had only been in the sport for two years. I'd question even letting someone with such a small amount of experience compete at a high level where people push themselves as hard as possible. He might have been very good at it, when things were going well. But he wouldn't have had the same natural reactions of someone who has been competing in the sport since they were a child.

Not unusual to come into the sliding events late, after failing as a sprinter or something. Although that guy was relatively young I believe.

FatherTed

Like any sport where extreme speeds are achieved, accidents happen. Look at Ayrton Senna or Dale Earnhardt, probably the best ever drivers in their motor racing codes losing their lives. So there are always risks with a sport like this.

As for this particular track, yes it is very fast with the world record speed for the luge broken recently on it. Also in the last few days for practice runs, there hae been a lot of crashes, even the Gold medal favourite crashed.

Also saw some "expert" talking about it tonight that he has no problems for the top 12 competitors but below that the competitors are simply not as experienced.

ARGINITE

=FatherTed wrote:

As for this particular track, yes it is very fast with the world record speed for the luge broken recently on it. Also in the last few days for practice runs, there hae been a lot of crashes, even the Gold medal favourite crashed.

The death of Ayrton Senna resulted in new safety measures in the sport, hopefully this will have the same affect here.

If what you are saying regarding crashes is true then the track should be closed and the necessary changes made to the track, even I looking at that corner can see it is very dangerous.

What were they thinking putting the poles so close to the track! Tree huggers or not, the poles should be a good distance away from the track. The only possible solution at this late hour is to extend the track side up higher preventing the same situation happening again.

bnt

Pageant Messiah wrote: »

Jesus Christ - why would you place a load of steel poles there ??? By all means hold up the roof etc again pre empting the inevitable smart ass comment but from a safety point of view that's lunacy.

I think they could have done a better job on the roof design, but they can't start modifying the structure at this late stage, except (perhaps) to remove the roof entirely. They could have padding on those columns, and I expect we will see some appearing now. The guy was going over 140 km/h, so I wonder how much that would have helped?

I won't say anything about the structural requirements of a roof that might need to carry massive snow loads because, you say, that would be smart ass.

MagicMarker

Ronan Keating wrote: »

Did he whack his head of the pillar?

Some of your posts have been pretty fúcking retarded.

WTF is the point of this question?

FunnyStuff

"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," they said. "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."

This from the Vancouver Olympic commitee (FIL) just smacks of gross indecency. They might as well have just said "sure its his own fault, he didnt steer properly".

I guess the arrogance can be expected...... bit of french in them after all.

bnt

Latest I'm reading is that there are going to be changes to the course: they're raising the height of the wall at that point.

The wall will be raised at the exit of Curve 16, the last on the course and where Nodar Kumaritashvili of the republic of Georgia lost control, went airborne and slammed into a steel pole, and other unspecified changes will be made to the ice.
They called the accident "extremely exceptional," however, and said it was triggered by Kumaritashvili's failure to compensate for coming late out of the next-to-last curve, not by "deficiencies in the track."
After studying the crash on video, they said, it was determined that the luger was offline coming out of Curve 15 and "did not compensate properly to make correct entrance into Curve 16."

http://sports.espn.go.com/olympics/winter/2010/luge/news/story?id=4910883

Gamesnash.ie: Pat

FunnyStuff wrote: »

"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," they said. "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."

This from the Vancouver Olympic commitee (FIL) just smacks of gross indecency. They might as well have just said "sure its his own fault, he didnt steer properly".

I guess the arrogance can be expected...... bit of french in them after all.

Obviously he did not negotiate the course properly / a mistake was made but do they not see the point that it is the surrounds of the track after a mistake has been made that has caused the tragic death. That's a bizarre statment to make.

calex71

Surely they could have put some padding around that, something like what they use in the down hill ski events? Might not have saved the poor guy either but can't imagine it would have been any worse than bare steel and concrete.

ilovelamp2000

Who else is now more likely to watch the luge in the coming days and weeks ?

Cookie_Monster

medicman2009 wrote: »

Poor soul that's tragic, but the fcuking saps who designed the course, did they not do a risk assessment?

Of course they would have done. The Canadians have been using it for months without incident too. He obviously wasn't good enough to be fully in control, only 2 years as stated in another post, that is not enough time to be taking on the most challenging courses in the world

Rosco1982 wrote: »

Who else is now more likely to watch the luge in the coming days and weeks ?

yep

bonerm

I know google like to stay topical with their homepage, but you'd think they might want to consider changing todays image. :rolleyes:

Busi_Girl08

^ Pretty sure it's meant to be a tribute to yer man...

karma_

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

Of course they would have done. The Canadians have been using it for months without incident too. He obviously wasn't good enough to be fully in control, only 2 years as stated in another post, that is not enough time to be taking on the most challenging courses in the world




yep

So your an expert in the luge all of a sudden and are in a position to estimate the talent of the guy competing in it?

On your point about the Canadians using it for a while. Yes they have, and they also stopped any other competitor from using it thus giving their own entrants a competitive advantage. This also resulted in athletes from other nations not getting used to a very fast and dangerous track. They have to accept some kind of responsibility for this accident rather than whitewash it.


Then again, opinions are like asshóles, everyones got one.

Ronan Keating

MagicMarker wrote: »

WTF is the point of this question?

His face looked very bloodied.

amacachi

How does whoever the **** was involved in the design of that corner manage to feed themselves? Fcuking hell.

I'll be far less likely to watch the Luge and Skeleton now, usually watch it any change I get.

Also what the **** is that statement about? In Motor Racing they've managed to mature enough to say "Yeah, maybe we should try to stop people from dying and **** when they crash." Mind-boggling.