Olympic luge athlete Nodar Kumaritashvili died in Vancouver during a training run at Whistler Sliding Center, just hours before the opening ceremonies were set to begin. The 21-year-old from the former Soviet republic of Georgia was traveling at speeds near 90 mph when he lost control. He went over the track wall near the finish line and struck an unpadded steel pole.
Chest compressions and mouth to mouth resuscitation were performed within one minute of the crash, that occurred at 10:45 a.m., 47 seconds into the Olympian’s run. He was airlifted to a nearby trauma center within 8 minutes, but doctors were unable to revive the fallen athlete.
Kumaritashvili was making his Olympic debut after qualifying for the Luge Men’s Singles event that begins on Saturday, February 13.
The head of the Georgia delegation is Irakly Japaridze. He said, “We are all in deep shock. We don’t know what to do. We don’t know whether to take part in the opening ceremonies or even the Olympic Games themselves.”
Hours later it was announced that the opening ceremonies would be dedicated to the memory of Nodar Kumaritashvili. His team, wearing black arm bands, participated in the Friday night spectacle and will compete in the Vancouver Games as a tribute to their deceased team member.
Warning…the attached photos and crash video are very graphic and may be extremely disturbing to view. The final video shows his coffin being carried by a Georgian delegation.
Omg I feel sorry for him he died on turn 13 “the 50 50″ it means 50 to not crash 50 chance to crash. It’s really scary he died at the age of 21. His family should sue who ever built that ramp. He person usealy goes 90+ miles per hour think of that getting hit by a pole like he did. If I were him and I lived I would have felt greatful I lived but he didn’t many people crash on that turn they need to fix it so it is not as so sharp of a turn. To the people who crash it would be like you crashing off a cliff in a car going 50 miles per hour with no airbags. It is very sad when he started off he looked like “I’m gong to nail this one” but be nailed something but it was not the run. That’s why on the opening creimony you would see people with black bands on the flag pole and clothes. I hope we all morn the loss of the best athelet ever (Shan white is the 2end best).
Omg I feel sorry for him he died on turn 13 “the 50 50″ it means 50 to not crash 50 chance to crash. It’s really scary he died at the age of 21. His family should sue who ever built that ramp. He person usealy goes 90+ miles per hour think of that getting hit by a pole like he did. If I were him and I lived I would have felt greatful I lived but he didn’t many people crash on that turn they need to fix it so it is not as so sharp of a turn. To the people who crash it would be like you crashing off a cliff in a car going 50 miles per hour with no airbags. It is very sad when he started off he looked like “I’m gong to nail this one” but be nailed something but it was not the run. That’s why on the opening creimony you would see people with black bands on the flag pole and clothes. I hope we all morn the loss of the best athelet ever (Shan white is the 2end best).
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Nodar Kumaritashvili