Luge racer dies-Whistler training

[shootingstar]

http://www.vancouversun.com/Horrific+crash+kills+Olympic+luge+competitor/2556583/story.html

Happened today. Hard to know if Opening Ceremonies or later during Olympics, may provide a few words.

Update @2:00pm today: We were at the final stop gathering for the Olympic torch flame relay before it goes to the Opening Ceremonies in stadium tonight.

This final stop was at the Four First Nations Host Pavilion (for 4 different aboriginal groups) where one of the chiefs in his speech, did express condolences for loss of luge racer and for his family.

[annielynn]

How sad and scary. :(

[badgercat]

Seems to be quite a few pictures surfacing of his (violent) crash...an interview with one 'first-responder' sounded as though he was unconscious immediately, so perhaps there's some small comfort for his loved ones in the fact he didn't experience prolonged suffering. :(

A sad reminder of the risks involved in these sports, but hopefully lessons will be learned and other tragedies can be avoided...

[malkin]

Very, very sad.

[Cataboo]

I only read an article or two and really don't know anything about luging - but it seems sad that there is a lot of crashes in practices, and many of the lugers are questioning whether or not the track is too fast - and the limited access to non-canadians previously, means that a lot of these lugers are having to get familliar with going high speed on the track very quickly. Some of the lugers from more affluent countries, worrying that the track is too fast for those from smaller countries who don't have access to such a track to practice on before they get to the olympics...

Hopefully this is the only death that happens, but I'm not sure I'd want to be competing in that event.

[roadie gal]

The evening news showed the full video of his crash, and death, over and over. So sad... and so repulsive that they did that.

[Tri Girl]

very tragic. My heart ached for the Georgia team as they marched in the opening ceremonies. The pain they must be feeling is unfathomable. You have to know he would want them to go on and race in his memory, but how very sad.
Roadie gal- you are correct. I hate the news sometimes. Very, very distasteful.

[Aggie_Ama]

When I was studying journalism we studied appropriate use of photos, I saw the video and thought it was absolutely tasteless to release it. The article explained the wreck in detail, it was unnecessary to show it. We learned "if it bleeds it leads" which is sickening, I am sure some editor was excited to find out there was video and photos. There are many reasons I didn't pursue journalism professionally but the coverage of stories like this is definitely is one of them.

[shootingstar]

The Kumaritashvili family owns Hotel Saba, Bakuriani's main guesthouse, where people had gathered to watch the Games on TV late at night. Everyone, including Mr. Kumaritashvili's mother and sister, watched his death broadcast live on TV. There was shocked silence, villagers said, followed by an agonizing day of confusion and mourning.

Excerpt from:
http://www.ctvolympics.ca/luge/news/newsid=41085.html#a+promise+made+best

[copperlegend]

that poor family, how awful!