Just Jack Posted February 12, 2010 Posted February 12, 2010 http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/vancouver...?urn=oly,219382 Nodar Kumaritashvili, a Georgian luger, has died from one of the most horrible accidents imaginable just hours before the official start of the Olympics. Kumaritashvili lost control of his sled, went over a wall, and slammed into a metal support beam. Observers said his sled was traveling nearly 90 mph.
KD in CA Posted February 12, 2010 Posted February 12, 2010 That's awful; and quite a down note to start the Games. RIP
Just Jack Posted February 12, 2010 Author Posted February 12, 2010 videos are being taken down as fast as they get online, found only one on youtube currently (about the 30 second mark) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6B2ggmzEDM Not graphic but it is a close view of the accident EDIT: Video already taken down. Here's a description if you want to read it. Basically you see him come off the sled, fly out of the track and hit one of the poles in what looks like a viewing area, while his sled continues down the track
Hammered a Lot Posted February 12, 2010 Posted February 12, 2010 videos are being taken down as fast as they get online, found only one on youtube currently(about the 30 second mark) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6B2ggmzEDM Not graphic but it is a close view of the accident This new track is the fasts in the world. Perhaps to fast.
Beerball Posted February 12, 2010 Posted February 12, 2010 Wow, horrible accident. Hopefully this question won't come across as insensitive...what was his world ranking?
The Avenger Posted February 12, 2010 Posted February 12, 2010 Chicago Tribune has some pictures that show what happened... Chicago Tribune
BillsNYC Posted February 12, 2010 Posted February 12, 2010 New link http://www.ishatonu.com/2010/02/12/luge-ac...r-video-linked/
truth on hold Posted February 12, 2010 Posted February 12, 2010 how sad. thoughts and prayers out to friends and family
Beerball Posted February 12, 2010 Posted February 12, 2010 Well, he was ranked #44 and had been on the Georgian team for 2 years. Based on those photos from the Chicago Tribune it looks far too easy for an accident like this to happen again.
kegtapr Posted February 12, 2010 Posted February 12, 2010 What stupid **** designed that course!? "Lets have concrete beams 1 foot from the track" Brilliant!!!!! They need to shut that track down unless they can make the corner safe. The sport is dangerous enough without an idiotic design flaw. Watching the video he really seemed to be haulin ass. Track looks must faster than normal, and maybe faster then they are used to.
BillsNYC Posted February 12, 2010 Posted February 12, 2010 http://sports.espn.go.com/olympics/winter/...tory?id=4909034
Chandler#81 Posted February 12, 2010 Posted February 12, 2010 Per ESPN, many Lugers (men & women teams) have complained they're being used as 'test crash dummies' through the trials and practice. Too fast & too dangerous. Now's a helluva time to make this determination Very sad. Also said Georgia is considering pulling their entire team and going home.
bbb Posted February 13, 2010 Posted February 13, 2010 Wow - he won't be the only fatality if they don't make some major changes
Steely Dan Posted February 13, 2010 Posted February 13, 2010 New link http://www.ishatonu.com/2010/02/12/luge-ac...r-video-linked/ The video isn't that graphic except for the fact you know as soon as he's hit the pole he's dead. What stupid **** designed that course!? "Lets have concrete beams 1 foot from the track" Brilliant!!!!! They need to shut that track down unless they can make the corner safe. The sport is dangerous enough without an idiotic design flaw. Watching the video he really seemed to be haulin ass. Track looks must faster than normal, and maybe faster then they are used to. My thoughts exactly. It seems more forethought could have been put into that. It's cool it's such a fast track. It sucks that it's too dangerous. Well, look for the luge competition to be the highest rated Olympic event.
Just Jack Posted February 13, 2010 Author Posted February 13, 2010 Probe: track didn’t cause luger’s death Olympic officials decided late Friday night against any major changes in the track or any delays in competition and even doubled up on the schedule in the wake of the horrifying accident that claimed the life of a 21-year-old luger from the republic of Georgia. They said they would raise the wall where the slider flew off the track and make an unspecified “change in the ice profile”—but only as a preventative measure “to avoid that such an extremely exceptional accident could occur again.” Sure, no problem found...
KD in CA Posted February 13, 2010 Posted February 13, 2010 Probe: track didn't cause luger's death Olympic officials decided late Friday night against any major changes in the track or any delays in competition and even doubled up on the schedule in the wake of the horrifying accident that claimed the life of a 21-year-old luger from the republic of Georgia. They said they would raise the wall where the slider flew off the track and make an unspecified "change in the ice profile"—but only as a preventative measure "to avoid that such an extremely exceptional accident could occur again." Sure, no problem found... Well you know the language in the release was poured over all night by the lawyers. My guess is you can change the shape of the track a little bit (add or subtrack ice in spots) and change the way they come out of turns pretty significantly. Obvioulsy there's nothing they can do about the big poles at this point.
Just Jack Posted February 13, 2010 Author Posted February 13, 2010 Obvioulsy there's nothing they can do about the big poles at this point. Sure they can, get this and this.
Southern McButterpants. Posted February 13, 2010 Posted February 13, 2010 Well you know the language in the release was poured over all night by the lawyers. My guess is you can change the shape of the track a little bit (add or subtrack ice in spots) and change the way they come out of turns pretty significantly. Obvioulsy there's nothing they can do about the big poles at this point. CBS News last night showed a video of the crash over and over . . slo-motion, etc. Kinda sick. But as my wife and I are watching that, we both said something to the effect of, "What moron put those poles there right after a turn??"
KD in CA Posted February 13, 2010 Posted February 13, 2010 Sure they can, get this and this. I'm not sure that would have helped much since the guy was going 80mph when he hit the pole, but you never know. CBS News last night showed a video of the crash over and over . . slo-motion, etc. Kinda sick. But as my wife and I are watching that, we both said something to the effect of, "What moron put those poles there right after a turn??" Yeah, the video was pretty gruesome. I would expect a significant renovation to the course after the Games.
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