History of Nodar Kumaritashvili in Timeline

Nodar Kumaritashvili was a Georgian luge athlete whose life was tragically cut short during a training run at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Whistler, Canada. He died on the day of the opening ceremony after a crash. His death marked a somber moment in Olympic history, as he became the fourth athlete to die in preparation for a Winter Games and the eighth overall due to competition or practice at an Olympic venue.

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Full Timeline Challenges & Struggles

1964: Deaths during preparations for Winter Olympics

In 1964, British luger Kazimierz Kay-Skrzypecki and Australian skier Ross Milne died during preparations for the Winter Olympics in Innsbruck.

1970: Luge Introduced to Georgia

In 1970, Kumaritashvili's grandfather, Aleko Kumaritashvili, introduced luge to Georgia after training in East Germany and helped build a primitive luge run in Bakuriani.

1973: Finished Track Built

In 1973, a more finished luge track, funded by the Soviet authorities, was built in Bakuriani, Georgia, following the initial efforts of Aleko Kumaritashvili to introduce the sport.

December 1975: Luge Fatality

In December 1975, Italian luger Luigi Craffonara was killed, marking the first luge fatality since then until Kumaritashvili's death.

November 1988: Birth of Nodar Kumaritashvili

On 25 November 1988, Nodar Kumaritashvili was born in Borjomi, Georgian SSR, present-day Georgia, to David and Dodo Kumaritashvili. He had a younger sister named Mariam.

Others born on this day/year

1992: Death during preparations for Winter Olympics

In 1992, Swiss speed skier Nicolas Bochatay died during preparations for the Winter Olympics in Albertville.

October 2004: Final Design Produced for Whistler Sliding Centre

On 23 October 2004, the final design for the Whistler Sliding Centre, the venue for the Olympic luge competition, was produced by Ingenieurburo Gurgel (IBG) after a series of studies and track realignments. The maximum calculated speed for men's luge was 136.3 km/h.

February 2005: Concerns About Cesana Pariol Track

In February 2005, concerns arose regarding the difficulties posed by Cesana Pariol, the track built for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, due to several serious crashes.

March 2005: Concerns About Whistler Track

In March 2005, the International Luge Federation (FIL) communicated concerns to the Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC) that similar modifications might be required at the Whistler track, as were being considered for the Cesana Pariol track.

2006: Construction Based on Original Design

In 2006, it was determined that the construction of the Whistler track would be based on the original design, despite uncertainty about the track design.

2008: Competed in Luge World Cup

In 2008, Nodar Kumaritashvili began competing in the Luge World Cup, marking a significant step in his luge career.

February 2009: FIL Expresses Concern Over Track Speed

Following the Olympic test event in February 2009, Josef Fendt, president of FIL, expressed surprise and worry in a letter to IBG that a record speed of 153.937 km/h had been reached at the Whistler track, stating that the designer's calculations were incorrect and that the high speed "makes me worry."

April 2009: IBG Explains Speed Differences

In April 2009, IBG explained that the differences between the calculated and actual observed speeds at the Whistler track were caused by new sled technology that reduced drag and friction coefficients, attributing the high speeds to advancements in sled technology.

November 2009: Werner Hoeger Crashes on Track

In November 2009, Venezuelan luger Werner Hoeger crashed on the Whistler track, suffering a severe concussion, and reportedly made written complaints about the track's safety.

December 2009: Qualified for 2010 Winter Olympics

By 31 December 2009, Kumaritashvili was ranked 38th overall and qualified for the luge men's singles event at the 2010 Winter Olympics.

2009: Earned Economics Degree

In 2009, Kumaritashvili earned an economics degree from the Georgian Technical University, balancing his academic pursuits with his luge career.

2009: Graduation with Economics Degree

In 2009, Kumaritashvili graduated from the Georgian Technical University with a bachelor's degree in economics, while maintaining a rigorous training schedule.

2009: Participated in Luge World Cup

In 2009, Nodar Kumaritashvili participated in the 2009-10 Luge World Cup event at Cesana Pariol in January, finishing 28th out of 32 competitors.

February 2010: Fatal Crash during Training Run

In February 2010, Nodar Kumaritashvili, a Georgian luge athlete, suffered a fatal crash during a training run for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Whistler, Canada, on the day of the opening ceremony. He became the fourth athlete to die during Winter Olympics preparations.

February 2010: Funeral and Burial

In February 2010, after arriving in Tbilisi on 17 February, Kumaritashvili's body was taken to his hometown of Bakuriani. Thousands of Georgians attended his funeral feast on 19 February, and he was buried on 20 February at the church he attended.

February 2010: Fatal Crash

On 12 February 2010, Nodar Kumaritashvili was fatally injured in a crash during his final training run at the Whistler Sliding Centre, after losing control in the last turn and striking an unpadded steel support pole at a speed of 143.6 km/h.

April 2010: FIL Publishes Final Report

On 19 April 2010, the FIL published its final report to the International Olympic Committee on Kumaritashvili's death. The report attributed the accident to "driving errors" and the unexpected dynamics of the crash.

September 2010: Coroner Rules Death an Accident

In a report dated 16 September 2010, the coroner ruled Kumaritashvili's death an accident brought on by an "interaction of factors," including the high speed of the track, its technical difficulty, and the athlete's relative unfamiliarity with the track.

2010: Olympic Debut

In 2010, Nodar Kumaritashvili made his Olympic debut at the Winter Olympics, marking a significant milestone in his luge career.

2010: Coroners Service Investigates Incident

In 2010, The British Columbia Coroners Service investigated the incident, considering written complaints about the safety of the Whistler track.

2013: Report on Crash Cause

In 2013, Mont Hubbard, a University of California, Davis, professor, issued a report claiming that Kumaritashvili's crash was probably caused by a "fillet," a joint between the lower edge of the curve and a vertical wall.

2014: FIL to Homologate Sochi Track

FIL President Fendt wrote to the Sochi 2014 Olympic Organizing Committee that the FIL would homologate the proposed Sochi track only if speeds did not exceed 130 to 135 km/h (81 to 84 mph).

2014: Luge Track Design for Sochi Winter Olympics

In 2014, The luge track built for use at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, was designed with two uphill sections to reduce speeds, and for runs about 10 miles per hour (16 km/h) slower than the Whistler track, in response to safety concerns.