Olympic Luger Dies Following Practice Crash

Nodar Kumaritashvili of Georgia lost control of his sled
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Feb 12, 2010 2:52 PM CST
Olympic Luger Dies Following Practice Crash
Nodar Kumaritashvili of Georgia receives mouth-to-mouth resuscitation after crashing during a training run for the men's singles luge at the Olympics in Whistler, British Columbia, Feb. 12, 2010.    (Michael Sohn)

Just hours before the opening ceremony, an Olympic luger from the country of Georgia died today after a crash during training near Vancouver. Nodar Kumaritashvili, 21, lost control of his sled, went over the track wall, and struck an unpadded steel pole near the finish line at Whistler Sliding Center. Rescue workers were at his side within seconds, and he was quickly airlifted to a trauma center, where he was pronounced dead. (More Nodar Kumaritashvili stories.)

Get breaking news in your inbox.
What you need to know, as soon as we know it.
Sign up
Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X