2010 Winter Olympics

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Luger dies in horror crash​

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Tragedy struck the Winter Olympics just hours before the opening ceremony in Vancouver, as Georgian luge hopeful Nodar Kumaritashvili was killed following a horror crash.

The 21-year-old Olympian was having his second practise run when he suffered a horrific 90mph crash that saw him fly off the track and collide with a metal pole at the Whistler Sliding Centre.

Just hours before the opening ceremony for the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Kumaritashvili came flying off the track during his second training run at the notoriously dangerous track at Whistler.

According to reporters at the scene, Kumaritashvili struck a steel pole near the finish after losing control of his sled on the final turn and clearing the ice-coated wall along the side of the track.

 

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Nodar Kumaritashvili, a Georgian luge slider competing at the Vancouver Olympics, died today after crashing during a training run and hitting a metal pole. He was 21.

According to the Vancouver Sun, Kumaritashvili was traveling at speeds greater than 90 miles per hour at the time of the crash.

The luge track had been called the fastest ever, and the AP notes that concerns were raised even before the fatal crash:

 

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VANCOUVER, BC - FEBRUARY 12: Nelly Furtado (L) and Bryan Adams perform during the Opening Ceremony of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics at BC Place on February 12, 2010 in Vancouver

 

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VANCOUVER, BC - FEBRUARY 12: Seventh president of the International Olympic Committee Juan Antonio Samaranch (L) and IOC President Jacques Rogge attend the Opening Ceremony of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics at BC Place on February 12, 2010 in Vancouver, Canada.

VANCOUVER, BC - FEBRUARY 12: Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper (R), his wife Laureen Harper (2L) and their children Rachel Harper (L) and Benjamin Harper attend the Opening Ceremony of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics at BC Place on February 12, 2010 in Vancouver, Canada


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People take pictures as candles are lit in memory of luger Nodar Kumaritashvili who died on February 12, 2010 in a crash during a training run of the Luge event of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics at Whistler sliding center is displayed with candles on an improvised altar in Whistler city center. Georgia's Olympic team vowed to carry on at the Vancouver Games after luger Nodar Kumaritashvili was killed in a horror crash in training after being thrown from his sled into a metal pillar

A man lights a candle in memory of luger Nodar Kumaritashvili who died on February 12, 2010 in a crash during a training run of the Luge event of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics at Whistler sliding center is displayed with candles on an improvised altar in Whistler city center.​

 

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Amy Williams became the first British individual gold medallist at the Winter Olympics since 1980 with victory in the women's skeleton.

The 27-year-old finished a full 0.56 seconds ahead of her nearest rival, Germany's Kerstin Szymkowiak. ​

 

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Didier Defago was the star of day four as he took gold in the men's downhill making him the first Swiss to win a men's Olympic Alpine title since Pirmin Zurbriggen in Calgary back in 1988.

Bode Miller was the early leader but the American had to settle for bronze

Great Britain's Ed Drake finished 38th in his first Olympic appearance​

 

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China's Xue Shen and Hongbo Zhao were crowned champions in the figure skating pairs.

 

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Poland's Joanna Sulej falls during the figure skating pairs.​