Eleven years have passed since the tragic death of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili.
On February 12, 2010, a few hours before the Olympic Games opening, a member of the Georgian Olympic team, Nodar Kumaritashvili, lost control during one of his last training sessions on the Whistler track and crashed into the board at the speed of 143.3 kilometers per hour. As a result, the 21-year-old athlete fell off and collided with a metal structure.
He was airlifted to a hospital but could not be rescued. Georgian sportsman died after being taken to hospital.
According to the organizers' official statement, the tragedy was caused by a mistake of the luger and not the malfunction of the track. According to them, Kumaritashvili was late to leave the 15th turn and could not enter the next one correctly. However, it is noteworthy that two-time Olympic champion, Italian Armin Zöggeler, lost control, fell off, and slid 200 meters on his back, barely escaping the tragedy during the training approach, exactly in the same turn. Romanian luger Violeta Stramaturaru, who was diagnosed with a concussion while falling, was accidentally saved from death, doctors removed her from the competition.
On February 17, Nodar Kumaritashvili's body was brought to Georgia. The sportsman was buried in the churchyard of his native Bakuriani.
The street where Nodar Kumaritashvili lived in Bakuriani was named after a Georgian Olympian, Bakuriani Sakrebulo made the decision.
Nodar Kumaritashvili is the fourth athlete in the history of the Winter Olympics to die.
A memorial dedicated to Nodar Kumaritashvili was unveiled in Canada last year.
