Georgian luger dies during practice run on Olympic course

WHISTLER, British Columbia — A luger from the former Soviet republic of Georgia was killed after a horrific crash on the year-old sledding track Friday, Olympic officials confirmed.

On a morning training run, Nodar Kumaritashvili lost
control of his sled at nearly 80 mph and was catapulted over the lip of
the track and slammed into an unpadded metal pole.

Track and medical workers dashed to his side and
began performing CPR as an ambulance raced to the side of the track. An
air-rescue helicopter was called in.

Training was suspended as Olympic officials met to review the situation.

There has been speculation that the track is too
fast. On Thursday, Romanian slider Violeta Stramaturaru was briefly
knocked unconscious and required medical treatment.

It is possible to dial down the speed of the track by adding frost.

Kumaritashvili has been competing in luge for just two years.

Even veteran luge athletes are having trouble negotiating the track, considered the world’s fastest.

Armin Zoeggeler, the two-time Olympic gold medalist from Italy, crashed in training, and Germany’s Felix Loch, considered a medal favorite, injured his shoulder last November during international training week.

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