Training crash kills Olympic luge competitor

[the chi]

Originally Posted by Avatard

People die climbing mountains for little more reason that "because it was there", so I would say, if you can cast off doing what you love best, bravo, and let no one question your motives.

Well said!!

[Particle Man]

even starting further down the track they're breaking 90 pretty consistently at the finish line -

[tommymac]

Originally Posted by Particle Man

even starting further down the track they're breaking 90 pretty consistently at the finish line -

I think they said their overall times were slower, and maybe its enough to slow them up in the problem areas.

[goof2]

The problem area for the Georgian was at the finish line.

[Captain Morgan]

not loading on nbc's site, but abc has it still. They say it's graphic, but there isn't any blood, guts, or anything like that. Probably wouldn't even be labeled graphic if he didn't die. Still, it was a hard hit, for sure.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/video/n...-crash-9823485

[Kerry_129]

Damn - I had only seen some still shots so far. Well, at least he probably went very quick and painlessly - and pursuing his passion.

Still way too young & very sad.

[Rider]

Originally Posted by Kerry_129

Damn - I had only seen some still shots so far. Well, at least he probably went very quick and painlessly - and pursuing his passion.

Still way too young & very sad.

He had enough time to shit his pants before he hit that post. But yeah death was instantaneous upon making contact.

Looks like they built a wall to keep that from happening again which they should have had up in the first place.

[Apoc]

Originally Posted by Rider

which they should have had up in the first place.

While I TOTALLY agree with this statement, there is also the fact that some countries send athletes, like this one, who may be the best in their respective country, but still not good enough to run on the worlds best tracks against the worlds best athletes.

Yes, part of the blame goes to the track, but every luger thats been interviewed has said the same thing, the track is scary fast, but it was human error that killed him, not the speed.

No different than us riding bikes, one mistake at 90mph is most likely going to be the end of us.

But no matter how you look at it, its a horrible, horrible tragedy.

[Kerry_129]

Originally Posted by Apoc

No different than us riding bikes, one mistake at 90mph is most likely going to be the end of us.

Yup - that's what occurred to me too. How many countless times I've flown past trees/poles/guardrails/etc. at speeds well in excess of 90mph, where one mistake could have yielded similarly instantaneous fatal results.... Good reminder to keep things in check!

[Riceaholic]

Originally Posted by Kerry_129

Yup - that's what occurred to me too. How many countless times I've flown past trees/poles/guardrails/etc. at speeds well in excess of 90mph, where one mistake could have yielded similarly instantaneous fatal results.... Good reminder to keep things in check!

Blood mountain comes to mind...