Olympic Luger Who Died Video and Discussion; Would Nodar Kumaritashvili Want the Video Shown?

Olympic luger who died video and a discussion: would Nodar Kumaritashvili want the video shown? Olympic hopeful Nodar Kumaritashvili went to Vancouver with one thing on his mind: an Olympic gold medal. He told friends and family that he would either 'win or die' during his quest for success.

Sadly, it was the second part of his choice that came true. During a training event at the Whistler track, he lost control of his sled and flew over the top of a wall and in to a metal pole. Despite the best efforts of those around him, he died at a trauma center.

Video clips of his death can be found pretty much everywhere (except, of course, YouTube), and people have been frantically searching for and watching his death video over and over and over again.

His father says that he doesn't watch news reports of Nodar's death because he doesn't want to see the video where he dies. This statement makes many feel like all the news media outlets should pull their videos from the archives and quit playing it altogether.

But what would the luger himself say? Would he want the video pulled, or would he want people to see how dangerous his sport is? It could go either way.

Maybe Nodar Kumaritashvili would like to be remembered for the talented luger that he was. Instead of watching a compilation of different angles of his fatal crash, perhaps we should be watching clips of some of his best races. Instead of being shocked and awed over his death, wouldn't it be better to be shocked and in awe over his talent?

Face it - many of us, particularly those of us who live in warmer climates, aren't familiar with luging as a sport. Sure, we've heard of it. All it is to us is another Olympic medal event. However, there are many athletes out there that take this sport very seriously, and with good reason. It's difficult.

I can't even make it down a hill in a sled without falling off, let alone a track of ice traveling at a high rate of speed.

Perhaps if we took a step back and looked beyond the gruesomeness of the death and looked at the challenges that he faced as an athlete, then maybe we could understand his death. Instead of being gawking bystanders pointing with our mouths gaped open, maybe we could instead be compassionate human beings upset by the accident.

Source:

Toronto Star