When Georgian bobsleigh player Saba Kumaritashvili accelerated on the icy track of the Snow Dragon and successfully completed all the races, he clenched his fists, looked up to the sky and was relieved, even though he finished 31st.
Saba Kumaritashvili took his brother's will to the Olympics.
It's a story of overcoming fear and continuing family glory, and while it has nothing to do with medals, it's the closest footnote to the Olympics — 12 years ago, Saba's cousin Nodar Kumari tashvili died of an accidental fall during pre-sleigh training at the Vancouver Winter Olympics; 12 years later, Saba stood on the field of the Beijing Winter Olympics, fulfilling his cousin's wish and realizing his dream.
It's a sporting inspirational story out of tragedy – perseverance, overcoming fear, saying goodbye to tragedy, looking to the future, not living in fear anymore, and not letting anything slow down.
In 2010, Nordar Kumaritashvili was killed at the Vancouver Winter Olympics.
Shouldering my brother's Olympic dream
In Georgia, the surname Kumaritashvili is synonymous with sledding.
Saba's great-grandfather brought bobsleigh to Georgia and became the country's first bobsleigh instructor, while Saba's father, who was once president of the Georgian Bobsleigh Federation, is now succeeded by another of his cousins.
At the Winter Olympics, the surname is a sad story. During his last training session before the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, the 21-year-old Nordal died of accidentally hitting a steel pole on the side of the track, just hours before the opening of the Winter Olympics.
The moment of the accident of Nordar KumariTashvili.
This is the first time in 35 years of bobsleigh that a death tragedy has occurred on the track, and this tragedy has shaken the entire world of bobsleigh sports.
After winning the men's singles sled gold medal at the Vancouver Winter Olympics, Germany's Felix Locke melted his gold medal into two and flew to Georgia to give one to Nodal's family.
In Locke's words, Nordal changed the sport of bobsleigh. After Nordal's death, the International Bobsleigh Federation reduced the speed of the bobsleigh track, as well as mandatory track testing, and set a minimum score line for athletes to earn World Cup points.
This has not substantially changed the Kumari tashvili family, which is mired in tragedy, but the genes of the sleigh are still flowing in their blood.
Nodar Kumari Tashvili is remembered.
"May you carry his Olympic dream on your shoulders and compete with his spirit in your heart." This was a speech from then IOC President Rogge at the opening ceremony of the Vancouver Winter Olympics, but it has also been the driving force behind Saba's career.
Saba, who was only 9 years old at the time, was already obsessed with sledding, and his cousin's tragedy did not shake him from starting his bobsleigh career – he had only one goal, to complete Nordal's dream and become the first athlete of the Kumari Tashvili family to participate in the Winter Olympic bobsleigh competition.
"Every generation of our family has at least one bobsledger and now my father and I are continuing that tradition and following in Nordal's footsteps."
A monument was erected for Nodar Kumaritashvili.
It was painful to think of him, but it also gave me strength
At the Beijing Winter Olympics, Saba and his family story attracted a lot of attention.
Saba knew he was under more pressure than any other player, and Nodal was always on his mind and the family members, "Thinking about him was painful, but it also gave me strength." ”
The Georgian athlete is also 21 years old today, the same age as his cousin when he played at the Vancouver Winter Olympics. He hopes to use his own game to bridge the inner gap in his home.
"I am happy and proud that I have the opportunity to represent my family and country in this Olympic Games," said Saba Kumari Tashvili, "and now I have a sense of responsibility on my shoulders as a whole family and they expect me to achieve good results." It's really a lot of motivation, so I try to do my best for them. ”
"I work hard and believe in myself, I think every athlete's goal and dream is to participate in the Olympics, so I decided to achieve this goal two years ago, and I stand here too."
Saba has galloped along the track in Beijing.
Of course, Nordal has always been the driving force for Saba to move forward, and all the contestants who know Saba have also given him more encouragement, "I think he did a good job, won a good result for Georgia, and paid tribute to Nodar with his performance." ”
Before the race, British bobsledger Staudinger thought that Saba was successful if he could stand on the field, and the former roommate of Saba was convinced that the Kumari Tashvili family had become part of the sport of bobsleigh.
American Christian Nicomb, who competed in the bobsleigh competition at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, gave Saba full of respects, and in his opinion, Saba's trip to Beijing is a brilliant story.
"It was a terrible accident, an accident. In life, it's scary, but we either continue to live in fear or learn from it, grow from it and move on. ”
Source: The Paper, Zhu Yi