Luger Dies During Training Run – Nodar Kumaritashvili – Gold Medalist Armin Zöggeler also crashes – Vancouver – February 12, 2010 by Markus Noé

(Pictured above is Luger Armin Zöggeler)

Luger Dies During Training Run

Just a few hours before the opening ceremonies for the much anticipated Vancouver Olympics, a Georgian luger has died.

During a training session this morning just before 11:00 am Nodar Kumaritashvili lost control while coming into an out turn dubbed “thunderbird” at the Whistler Sliding Centre, and hit a metal pole. Moments before the crash he was clocked going 144 km/h, the paramedics were on the seen within minutes and began administrating CPR.

Training was postponed after the accident and race officials stated that there will be no runs until further notice. Defending gold medalist Armin Zöggeler along with 12 other lugers have crashed during training but no one has suffered any serious injuries.

It is rumored that during tonight’s ceremonies there will be a brief tribute for Kumaritashvili who lost is life doing what he loved to do.

markus.noe@live.com

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3 Comments

  1. I think, charges should be pressed against whoever constructed that luge track! This is horrible!!!

  2. Of course it’s horrible…..but one has to wonder the sanity in traveling down an icy chute, feet first and on their back, at over 144 kmh.

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