19:00, 19 April 2010

Death of Georgian sledge racer in Whistler found accidental

The death of the Georgian athlete - sledge racer Nodar Kumaritashvili - in the Olympic track in Whistler was an "unforeseeable fatal accident," which was a result of a chain of events, runs the conclusion of the International Luge Federation (FIL), placed today in the website of the organization.

The term "athlete's mistake" is no longer used. Now, the joint statement of Svein Romstad, Secretary General, and Claire DelNegro, Vice-President, of the FIL runs: "After an in-depth analysis we concluded that there was no single reason, but a complex series of interrelated events which led to this tragedy," quotes the GHN.

Then designing the Whistler Centre, it was supposed that the maximal speeds on the track would be about 135 km/h; however, the track proved to be much faster - the track record for sledge racers makes 153.7 km/h. As to Kumarishvili, according to calculations, he entered his last fatal turn at 144 km/h, the "NEWSru.com" reports.