On a morning training run, Nodar Kumaritashvili lost control of his sled at nearly 80 mph and was catapulted over the lip of the track and slammed into an unpadded metal pole.
Track and medical workers dashed to his side and began performing CPR as an ambulance raced to the side of the track. An air-rescue helicopter was called in.
Training was suspended as Olympic officials met to review the situation.
There has been speculation that the track is too fast. On Thursday, Romanian slider Violeta Stramaturaru was briefly knocked unconscious and required medical treatment.
It is possible to dial down the speed of the track by adding frost.
Kumaritashvili has been competing in luge for just two years.
Even veteran luge athletes are having trouble negotiating the track, considered the world’s fastest.
Armin Zoeggeler, the two-time Olympic gold medalist from
