Luge athlete killed in Whistler during training - Page 7 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

loob job · 02-12-2010, 02:00 PM

I can't find that video anywhere, one that works anyway, frustrating.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpQS7...347&feature=iv

Found it.......terrible.

Bill Bumface · 02-12-2010, 02:00 PM

Has an athlete ever died during a modern Olympic event? I know this was training and not technically the Olympics, but I'm wondering if this is a first of its kind.

MJM · 02-12-2010, 02:01 PM

Padding isn't a solution here. Padding or now padding, you hit a pole going 150 KM/H you are dead. A layer of padding isn't going to stop that.

Komskies · 02-12-2010, 02:02 PM

In Germany in 1972 9 athletes were killed by terrorists.

KootenayFlamesFan · 02-12-2010, 02:02 PM

Brutal. Supposed to be an enjoyable time for all athletes and spectators, now there's a death before they even open the Games. Poor kid, only 21...........terrible.

If they're going to spend 105 million on that track, they might as well have spent a few more bucks and bought some padding for those beams. Really be interesting to see what happens with the other racers. Could get ugly for Vancouver if everyone starts pulling out due to safety concerns......which is understandable.

GreatWhiteEbola · 02-12-2010, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJM

Padding isn't a solution here. Padding or now padding, you hit a pole going 150 KM/H you are dead. A layer of padding isn't going to stop that.

Inertia is a bitch on internal organs.

JayP · 02-12-2010, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJM

Padding isn't a solution here. Padding or now padding, you hit a pole going 150 KM/H you are dead. A layer of padding isn't going to stop that.

Yeah, padding really wouldn't do much.

A lot of the damage comes from your organs crashing around in your body when you go from 140 km/h to 0 km/h in a split second. The same thing happens with car accidents.

flames_fan_down_under · 02-12-2010, 02:03 PM

Not a good start at all to the games. Furlong and co. need to fix this.

Komskies · 02-12-2010, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJM

Padding isn't a solution here. Padding or now padding, you hit a pole going 150 KM/H you are dead. A layer of padding isn't going to stop that.

I don't think people are suggesting the pole should be padded. I think people are suggesting some sort of barrier that deflects the luger back onto the track. Ideally a worst case scenario would be a bunch of broken bones or something.

CubicleGeek · 02-12-2010, 02:04 PM

The video is now up on ctvolympics.ca.

opendoor · 02-12-2010, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Byrns

So in professional football they don't put padding on the goal posts?

This is the same thing, and I'd say a lawsuit is justified.

I haven't seen a video (and I don't think I want to) but I've seen pictures of the accident and the guy basically went straight into a pole at 150 km/h. Padding wouldn't have done a damn thing. Comparing it to football and the 30 km/h or so they might go into a pole is silly.

What they should have done (and probably will do) is put a solid surface along those pillars, whether it be higher sides on the track or a run of plexiglass, or whatever. Then the luger would have deflected off of it and slid down the track. He'd probably still be pretty seriously injured but he would have survived IMO.

Saint Troy · 02-12-2010, 02:05 PM

I wish I hadn't seen the video, he had to have been killed instantly at that speed. Tragic opening to the games, I wonder how the rest of the athletes come to grips mentally with racing on that track?

Igottago · 02-12-2010, 02:05 PM

Terrible news. I can't bring myself to actually click the links, I don't think I'd want to see the accident. Tragic way to kick off the Olympics.

Russic · 02-12-2010, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

Has an athlete ever died during a modern Olympic event? I know this was training and not technically the Olympics, but I'm wondering if this is a first of its kind.

In terms of death during an event I only found 1 instance (from wikipedia):

Quote:

The only Olympic death linked to doping occurred at the Rome Games of 1960. During the cycling road race, Danish cyclist Knud Enemark Jensen fell from his bicycle and later died. A coroner's inquiry found that he was under the influence of amphetamines.

HOOT · 02-12-2010, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Byrns

So in professional football they don't put padding on the goal posts?

This is the same thing, and I'd say a lawsuit is justified.

Has someone in recent football history ever run into those posts? Yes.

Has someone in recent luge history ever flew out of the track? No.

So no they are no the same thing. Things happen and even with padding on something it doesn't prevent someone from getting injured. I'm just saying you can't prevent or think of every little thing, especially when it has never happened in the history of the sport. But I'm sure going back to the early 1900's they used padding on the goal posts.

Stuff happens and this is how we improve as humans to bring safer ideas to sports. Just like when hockey nets were basically welded into the ground, or no nets above the glass behind the goals nets, or how about wearing helmets?

It's sad and I feel sorry for his family and friends but it doesn't take away from the fact it was a freak accident.

dj_patm · 02-12-2010, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pylon

Then never sit front row, behind a net at an NHL game. And laminated glass is trusted for bullet proof applications. Do you research any thing you type?

Calm down. Jesus.
No I didn't research physics before typing this post.

KootenayFlamesFan · 02-12-2010, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Komskies

I don't think people are suggesting the pole should be padded. I think people are suggesting some sort of barrier that deflects the luger back onto the track. Ideally a worst case scenario would be a bunch of broken bones or something.

I was thinking of some sort of padding that would act like a barrier around those beams.

Maybe not padding per se, but something that isn't 100% metal on the edge of the track.

With all the money they spent I'm sure they could have found someone to come up with the proper logistics.

pylon · 02-12-2010, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loob job

I can't find that video anywhere, one that works anyway, frustrating.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpQS7...347&feature=iv

Found it

Honestly, not really something that "needs" to be seen, its pretty brutal.

I'll give you the play by play.

Luger comes out of corner full speed.
Rides up the inside wall to high.
Overcorrects up the outside wall.
Goes back the other way and off track and is stops instantly from 140 kph almost being wedged at base of big sqaure steel post making a big "clang" noise.

I saw a motorcycle accident in Vancouver very similar involving a light standard, and the result was the same. Instant death.

rich76 · 02-12-2010, 02:08 PM

Terrible, terrible thing to have happened.

Rest in peace, buddy x

nfotiu · 02-12-2010, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HOOT

Has someone in recent football history ever run into those posts? Yes.

Has someone in recent luge history ever flew out of the track? No.

Is that true? I would have thought it was something that happens from time to time.

The design and the speed of track itself may have caused the guy to fly off the track.