Olympic Luger Dies

Magicking610 · **Posted:** February 12th, 2010, 5:39 pm

http://leoblogger.com/nodar-kumaritashvili-crash-accident-video-luger-dies.html/1787/
Well, a sad start to the Olympics. Nodar Kumaritashvili was aparently training earlier today when he crashed during one of his practice runs. It's a shame that this happened not even 12 hours before the Opening Ceremony.

Adbot · **Posted:** February 12th, 2010, 5:39 pm

Duke Juker · RSBandB Donor since 07/01/2010

What are the odds? I do suppose that these guys do realize the danger they are in every time they go out there, whether it be practice or a competition. It could happen to anyone. It only happens rarely, but when it happens, it's quite brutal and devastating. Too bad that it had to happen right before the Olympics. That's a real heart breaker. [-(

Pennstate315 · Runite Member 5-25-10

wow, whats the chances of him hitting a pole full speed

Tim · **Posted:** February 13th, 2010, 2:32 pm

I was wondering when this was going to be posted. From what the news has told me, this was his first Olympics and he was a novice to the sports. 140km/h is WAY to fast to be going into the final turn and his body was sideways when he left the track. The steel bar should have been padded, and I bet they are now padded enough that something like that will never happen again. I sort of this where were two factors in his crash. The fact that he was a novice, and the fact that everyone says that the Vancouver luge track is the most dangerous luge track in the world.

Flash · **Posted:** February 13th, 2010, 8:15 pm

It's sad that he died only like 5 hours before the opening ceremony.

Duke Juker · RSBandB Donor since 07/01/2010

Mli 699 wrote:

I was wondering when this was going to be posted. From what the news has told me, this was his first Olympics and he was a novice to the sports. 140km/h is WAY to fast to be going into the final turn and his body was sideways when he left the track. The steel bar should have been padded, and I bet they are now padded enough that something like that will never happen again. I sort of this where were two factors in his crash. The fact that he was a novice, and the fact that everyone says that the Vancouver luge track is the most dangerous luge track in the world.

I don't think it matters what padding you put on the poll. If you are going fast enough, all the padding in the world wont save you from getting injured if not killed. [-(

Adbot · **Posted:** February 14th, 2010, 1:03 am

Shwa · **Posted:** February 14th, 2010, 1:16 am

Officials are now saying that the Luger did not compensate for the angle of the last turn. Although the angle was fairly steep, it could have been prevented. The course has been around for a few years now, and there was a reason it was still open. I'm not saying it's all his fault, but it's not all the course's fault either.

ChrisT · **Posted:** February 14th, 2010, 1:13 pm

Duke Juker wrote:

Mli 699 wrote:

I was wondering when this was going to be posted. From what the news has told me, this was his first Olympics and he was a novice to the sports. 140km/h is WAY to fast to be going into the final turn and his body was sideways when he left the track. The steel bar should have been padded, and I bet they are now padded enough that something like that will never happen again. I sort of this where were two factors in his crash. The fact that he was a novice, and the fact that everyone says that the Vancouver luge track is the most dangerous luge track in the world.

I don't think it matters what padding you put on the poll. If you are going fast enough, all the padding in the world wont save you from getting injured if not killed. [-(

yea they need just a huge ice wall right there instead of poles.

did they actually have the luge part of the olympics still? cant beleive he didnt take it easy since he was novice. shoulda been trying out the course and checking the limits before going down that quick.

Duke Juker · RSBandB Donor since 07/01/2010

Well, sometimes when it's people first time in something big in the Olympics, it can be exciting and a little crazy. People who haven't been there before may feel like they need to practice hard for the upcoming days and really push themselves to do well. This may have happened to him or not. Still, being a novice to such a large event (and course, too) can cause any kind of problems. It can be quite stressful competing in the Olympics, especially if you are new to it.

Kenny · **Posted:** February 26th, 2010, 1:05 pm

I don't get how you're all saying he's a novice, he qualified for the Olympics for his country for god sake. Maybe he didn't know the course all that well, or didn't have as much experience as the other racers but he is still by no means a novice. It's an awful tragedy that he died but accidents happen and it reminds everyone what a dangerous thing it is.

Duke Juker · RSBandB Donor since 07/01/2010

That's what I meant, Kenny. He's not a novice skills wise, otherwise he wouldn't be in the Olympics. But the Olympics is no ordinary animal. There is much more pressure to perform and a new course to learn on top of that. You can have all the skill in the world, but if you can't handle pressure or keep your wits about you, bad things can happen.