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Nodar Kumaritashvili, a men's Olympic luger from the former Soviet republic of Georgia, died after a crash on the world's fastest track during training on Friday. An Olympic official has confirmed the death.
Officials said Nodar Kumaritashvili, 21, lost control of his sled Friday, went over the track wall and appeared to hit a steel pole near the finish line at the Whistler Sliding Center.
Rescue officials rushed to the scene and were performing chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation (pictured right). Kumaritashvili was lifted into an ambulance and received emergency treatment. An air-rescue helicopter was summoned and was in the area over the track about eight minutes after the crash.
Kumaritashvili was estimated to be going over 93 miles per hour near the end of the course where he went off the track. The track is considered the world's fastest and several Olympians recently questioned its safety. More than a dozen athletes have crashed during Olympic training.
The track is closed. Coaches of the national teams are in meetings with FIL, the international luge federation. The training run has been canceled.
Training was suspended indefinitely. Members of the International Luge Federation were called for a briefing and team captains from each nation were asked to attend a meeting.
Kumaritashvili competed in five World Cup races this season, finishing 44th in the world standings.
Earlier in the day, gold-medal favorite Armin Zoeggeler of Italy crashed, losing control of his sled also around Curve 11. Zoeggeler came off his sled, held it with his left arm to keep it from smashing atop his body, and slid on his back down several curves before coming to a stop and walking away.
Training days in Whistler have been crash-filled, with a Romanian woman briefly knocked unconscious and at least four Americans -- Chris Mazdzer on Wednesday, Megan Sweeney on Thursday and both Tony Benshoof and Bengt Walden on Friday in the same training session where Zoeggeler wrecked -- having serious trouble just getting down the track.
Officials said Nodar Kumaritashvili, 21, lost control of his sled Friday, went over the track wall and appeared to hit a steel pole near the finish line at the Whistler Sliding Center.
Rescue officials rushed to the scene and were performing chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation (pictured right). Kumaritashvili was lifted into an ambulance and received emergency treatment. An air-rescue helicopter was summoned and was in the area over the track about eight minutes after the crash.
Kumaritashvili was estimated to be going over 93 miles per hour near the end of the course where he went off the track. The track is considered the world's fastest and several Olympians recently questioned its safety. More than a dozen athletes have crashed during Olympic training.
The track is closed. Coaches of the national teams are in meetings with FIL, the international luge federation. The training run has been canceled.
Training was suspended indefinitely. Members of the International Luge Federation were called for a briefing and team captains from each nation were asked to attend a meeting.
Kumaritashvili competed in five World Cup races this season, finishing 44th in the world standings.
Earlier in the day, gold-medal favorite Armin Zoeggeler of Italy crashed, losing control of his sled also around Curve 11. Zoeggeler came off his sled, held it with his left arm to keep it from smashing atop his body, and slid on his back down several curves before coming to a stop and walking away.
Training days in Whistler have been crash-filled, with a Romanian woman briefly knocked unconscious and at least four Americans -- Chris Mazdzer on Wednesday, Megan Sweeney on Thursday and both Tony Benshoof and Bengt Walden on Friday in the same training session where Zoeggeler wrecked -- having serious trouble just getting down the track.
