R.I.P to the Georgian luger competitor Nodar Kumaritashvili who was killed in a horrific practice crash at the Whistler Sliding Center. Kumaritashvili was making his final scheduled training slide before Saturday’s competition when he lost control at 90mph and landed over the rim of the track before slamming into an unpadded pillar.
Medics performed emergency resuscitation at the scene before he was flown down the mountain by helicopter where he died in hospital.
“Our first thoughts are with the family, friends and colleagues of the athlete. The whole Olympic Family is struck by this tragedy which clearly casts a shadow over these Games,” IOC president Jacques Rogge said.
Training was canceled while the venue was investigated by the Coroners Service of British Columbia and the FIL.
They said the accident had not been caused by deficiencies in the track but that alterations had been made as a “preventative measure.”
