Quote:
Originally Posted by HOOT
They actually can slow down by the way they move their body and with the gloves and boots they wear from what I have heard. So if a luger can go slower and safer than they can. There are plenty of sports where going 100% can 'wreak' you or stop you from finishing first. This is where athletes need to find the happy medium if they are in a dangerous situation. Going 100% gives you the best chance to win, but also increases your chances of not finish at all or very high on the standings.
Again no one in recent history has come out of the track during luge so there was no reason to expect someone to do so now. Just like someone mentioned this is similar to car racing where now after some deaths they are improving areas that can cause them.
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Not sure what you'd define as recent, but one of the 2 other deaths at an olympics was the result of a luger flying off the track in 1964.
I'm sure nobody thought 'well somebody might fly over here, but screw it we'll take a chance' but that doesn't mean that someone shouldn't have looked at the track and noticed an issue.
And the track should be designed so that athletes pushing 100% can navigate it safely. Forcing athletes to brake in order to prevent a crash, or a loss of time, is one thing. Expecting athletes to brake so they don't die is completely different.