Luge crash kills Nodar Kumaritashvili at Winter Olympics
Traumatic events strike the Winter Olympics these days as Nodar Kumaritashvili, died today after crashing during a training run.
The 21 year old Georgian luge slider was traveling at speeds higher than 90 miles per hour (150 km/hr) when he launched from the track hit metallic girder
Kumaritashvili death was confirmed by officials and International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge released a public statement:
“Mr. Kumaritashvili died right after crashing on the last corner of the course throughout training. Doctors were unable to revive the athlete who passed away in hospital.
Our first thoughts are with the family, friends and colleagues of the athlete.
The whole Olympic Family is struck by this traumatic events which clearly casts a shadow over these Games.”
Kumaritashvili who turned 21 in November, had has competed in luge for Georgia since 2008.
The sport is riddled with had training run incidents. On Wednesday, the women lugers had multiple crashes including one which sent Romania’s Violeta Stramaturar towards the hospital after being knocked unconscious for a few minutes.
Then earlier these days, Italy’s Armin Zoeggler (2002 and 2006 gold medalist) rounding a corner crashed causing him to hold his sled out with one hand avoiding being hit by using it as he slid close to 200 meters.
