Olympic training death
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Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Airdrie Alberta
Olympic training death
Did anybody hear about this? This one hits close to home for me, my brother participated in the last 2 Olympics in luge, and this could have easily been one of his friends. He unfortunately didn't get along with the new coach of the Canadian Luge team so he isn't participating this time but after this I am pretty happy he isn't. Here is a link to the story and there is a video link within the article to the accident, it is a very very severe accident.
Skeleton News - 2010 Winter Olympics - CTV Olympics
Most people believe skeleton is more dangerous since it is head first, but in fact you have more control and less speed in skeleton, luge can reach up to almost 150 km/h which is around 93 mph with nothing but an inadequate helmet and a skin tight speed suit. I almost feel like it is somebody I know who has died in this accident, its kind of weird.
Skeleton News - 2010 Winter Olympics - CTV Olympics
Most people believe skeleton is more dangerous since it is head first, but in fact you have more control and less speed in skeleton, luge can reach up to almost 150 km/h which is around 93 mph with nothing but an inadequate helmet and a skin tight speed suit. I almost feel like it is somebody I know who has died in this accident, its kind of weird.
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Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Atlanta GA
What is tragic about this is it could have been prevented. It is not hard to foresee someone might hit a pole if they go off the course. All poles should have had a net barrier in front of them to prevent this kind of accident or at least stack hay in front of them. They shove hay barriers in front of poles at small race tracks. Just a shame.
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Logistics Pro
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From: Airdrie Alberta
Exactly, I'm not even sure what the poles were for but they are all the way down the track, now granted with this accident I don't think hay would have helped much, had the wall he came over been a foot and a half taller he would have stayed in the course
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Montreal Canada
I watched the accident on-line, it does look like the poles should have been padded or had a net considering how close they are to the course and coming out of a turn like that... you can literally hear the steel girder go "boing!!" from the impact.
But hindsight is 20/20, and luge is an altogether dangerous sport, I'm surprised more people aren't killed or crippled in some of these events. The way he was thrown into that pole looks to me like he would have ended up a vegetable.
But hindsight is 20/20, and luge is an altogether dangerous sport, I'm surprised more people aren't killed or crippled in some of these events. The way he was thrown into that pole looks to me like he would have ended up a vegetable.
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Logistics Pro
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From: Airdrie Alberta
They have built a 2 meter high wall in front of those steel beams. The accident was slider error and that slider was not very experienced. Lots of countries that do not have tracks still have a slider in the sport and they are usually not very good, and when they slide on a course like this one, this is what happens. In the weeks leading up to the Turin Olympics there was an accident involving a Brazilian luger that has left him brain damaged, and even during the race a Ukranian doubles team crashed and had to be air lifted out I think.
Do you get Le Journal de Montreal? If you do check out page 106 in the sports section, theres a picture of my bro there!
Do you get Le Journal de Montreal? If you do check out page 106 in the sports section, theres a picture of my bro there!
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Montreal Canada
Sorry don't subscribe to the Journal de Montreal...
I was looking at some pictures of our team and could have swore I saw Gordon Campbell in there... You figure he would have got benched after he failed the breathalizer.
I was looking at some pictures of our team and could have swore I saw Gordon Campbell in there... You figure he would have got benched after he failed the breathalizer.
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From: Greenfield, MA
This is a tragedy of unthinkable proportion...I'll have a good thought for the young man and the loved ones he left behind!!!
I find it interesting that the accident is attributed to operator error...yet they are shaving the ice and raising the wall at that point. I think that's shutting the barn door after the animals have escaped. Perhaps if they had done that before hand...the young man would still be alive!!!
I find it interesting that the accident is attributed to operator error...yet they are shaving the ice and raising the wall at that point. I think that's shutting the barn door after the animals have escaped. Perhaps if they had done that before hand...the young man would still be alive!!!
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Joined: Dec 2009
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From: Haymarket VA
That was a crazy accident. God rest his sole. But I did hear that thas was one of the fastest track and also not sure of how long ago but it's been a long a$$ time since someone has died.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Airdrie Alberta
1964 was the last time a luge athlete died. He was an inexperienced slider and didn't know how to compensate for what was happening at the time. Very unfortunate but it can happen to the experienced sliders as well.
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