It's an Olympic inspirational story that overcomes fear and emerges from tragedy. It has nothing to do with medals but is a true footnote to the Olympic spirit.
Saba Kumari Tashweli after the men's singles sledding competition at the Beijing Winter Olympics (photo taken on February 6, 2022).
On the evening of February 6, at the Yanqing National Bobsleigh Center, the men's single sleigh of the Beijing Winter Olympics ended the third round of sledding, and Georgia's Saba Kumari Tashweli ranked 31st, although he had no chance of medals, but the Winter Olympic story that happened to him and his family was shocking.
Saba Kumari Tashweli at the Men's Singles Bobsleigh Race at the Beijing Winter Olympics on February 5, 2022.
Saba Kumari Tashweli's cousin was Nonedal Kumari Tashwili, who was tragically killed before the Vancouver Winter Olympics.
Prior to the Vancouver Winter Olympics, Nordar Kumari Tashweli trains at whistler Track (photo taken on February 10, 2010).
12 years ago, on the eve of the opening of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, 1989-born Nordar Kumari Tashweli crashed into a post next to the track during a formal training session, and his life came to an abrupt end at the age of 21. At this time, the opening ceremony of the Vancouver Winter Olympics is less than 6 hours away.
Then-IOC President Rogge (center) at a press conference after the accident (pictured on February 12, 2010).
Nordal's death brought tears to the press conference site of then-IOC President Jacques Logue, and further improved bobsleigh sports in terms of track settings, safety protection and even project settings to prevent more casualties. The Vancouver Winter Olympic Organizing Committee immediately reduced the difficulty of the bobsleigh track, and the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics also reduced the speed of the bobsleigh race.
Austria's Egger competes in the men's single bobsleigh at the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 9, 2014.
The Kumari Tashweli family, to which Nordar and Saba belong, is a well-known family of bobsleigh in Georgia, and their ancestor Arigo KumariTashvili is regarded as the founder of the Georgian bobsleigh program. In Georgia, "Kumari Tashvili" is almost synonymous with the sport of sledding.
When everyone thought that Nodal's serious accident would directly put an end to the Olympic dream of the Kumari Tashweli family, the Kumari Tashweli family did not give up their love of bobsleigh. They are still involved in everything related to bobsleigh, including the design of new tracks and the training of athletes, and are committed to training more outstanding bobsleigh athletes to stand on the Olympic stage.
A competitor photographs Saba Kumari Tashweli sliding along the track on February 6, 2022.
The appearance of Saba made sleigh people around the world realize that the Olympic dream of the Kumari Tashweli family did not end there. Saba Kumari Tashvili is once again on the stage of the Winter Olympics, continuing his cousin Nodar KumariTashweli's unfulfilled dream in Beijing.
Saba and Nordar
He was also taken into the sleigh house by his father
We are also constantly improving our results in international competitions year by year
He also qualified for the Olympics at the age of 21
Saba Kumari Tashweli successfully glided in the "Snow Dragon"
The Olympic dream of this legendary Georgian bobsleigh family continues in Beijing
Planner: Liu Jie Zheng Wei Lan Hongguang Lai Xiangdong Wang Jianhua Coordinator: Li Ga Bi Mingming Photography: He Changshan Sun Fei Jiang Wenyao Yao Jianfeng Han Yan Li Gang Text: Wu Kunpeng Editor: Zhang Chen Hou Zhaokang Ma Ping Li Ying Hu Xingyu
Produced by the Xinhua News Agency's Winter Olympics reporting group