Olympic Athlete Dies During Practice Run

[twyacht]

A young athlete from the Republic of Georgia, on a polished razor sharp sled, with aerodynamic suit, on a solid ice tube track, lost control, and became airborne leaving the chute and hitting a steel upright at over 80mph. He did not survive.

http://www.nbcolympics.com/news-features/news/newsid=412058.html?__source=msnhomepage&cid=

Video at link, and it is not easy to watch.

I respect and admire those that work hard to chase an Olympic dream and wish the small contingent from Georgia my condolences.

[philw]

I have seen it a few times now...



going to be a nervous time for a lot of them   and I am trying to work out the design  with all those polls along the side. 

wonder if they are going to add any modifications to the track to lift the walls up or some shielding 

[fightingquaker13]

My question isn't about the track. Its about what jackass put those metal poles and railings in? It seems to me that some good old fashioned hay bales, double stacked like at a motorcycle race might have saved the guys life and cost a lot less.
FQ13 Who thinks Georgia, a US ally hs been through enough this last couple of years without this.

[Solus]

Read a book some time ago..a spy book as I recall, either a James Bond or Sam Durell...where someone was sent down a bob sled chute without a ride.

The statement was that, even should someone stay in the chute, they would be killed by the pummeling they would receive on the unprotected ride to the bottom.

Over the years I've watched the associated sports with that thought in mind and simply cannot believe that a course would be designed with such hazards.

Even football fields in the US have the goal posts offset to avoid this type of injury...and that is at "running speed" not the near 100 mph of the luge.

[MikeBjerum]

A sad start to a great event.  However, this does show the world that this is more than just an entertaining exhibition.  We have forgotten that the Olympics were originally competitions in skills and techniques used on the battlefield. 

My prayers to the family in this loss and for the safety of all competitors in the coming days.

[Sponsor]

[callithump]

The area was unprotected because the pros didn't see a threat. Given his troubles with that run I wonder if he was in over his head. Chin first into a girder at 80+ mph, not the way to go.

[tombogan03884]

The area was unprotected because the pros didn't see a threat. Given his troubles with that run I wonder if he was in over his head. Chin first into a girder at 80+ mph, not the way to go.

At that speed he probably never knew he got hit.
Bobsled and Luge are both FAST so there isn't much reaction time when things go wrong.

[GUNS-R-US]

At that speed he probably never knew he got hit.
Bobsled and Luge are both FAST so there isn't much reaction time when things go wrong.

I'm sure it didn't hurt long!

[Johnny Bravo]

This is just sad. A young man gone. God bless his family!