It's an Olympic inspirational story of overcoming fear and coming out of tragedy, which has nothing to do with medals, but is a true footnote to the Olympic spirit.
On the evening of February 6, the men's single sleigh of the Yanqing National Bobsleigh Center beijing Winter Olympics completed the third round of sledding, and Georgia's Saba Kumari Tashweili ranked 31st.
The player is not very impressive, but what everyone does not know is that the Winter Olympic story that happened to him and their family is shocking.
My cousin was killed during a formal training exercise
Less than 6 hours from the opening ceremony of the Vancouver Winter Olympics
The Kumari Tashvili family is a well-known family of bobsleigh sports in Georgia.
Saba's ancestor, Arigo Kumaritashvili, is regarded as the founder of the Georgian bobsleigh project, and his father is also the head of the Georgian Bobsleigh Association. In Georgia, "Kumari Tashvili" is almost synonymous with the sport of sledding.
Saba Kumari Tashwili's cousin was Nodar Kumari Tashwili, who was tragically killed before the Vancouver Winter Olympics.
On the eve of the opening of the Vancouver Winter Olympics, the bobsleigh athlete born in 1989 died in a formal training session. At that time, he flew out of the track at nearly 145 kilometers per hour at the 16th corner of Whistler Speedway and crashed into a post next to the track, and the life of the 21-year-old came to an abrupt end.
This is the 25th time Nodar has trained on this track, less than 6 hours before the opening ceremony of the Vancouver Winter Olympics.
At the age of 21, he stood on the field of the Winter Olympics
The Olympic dream did not end there
Just when everyone thought that this 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.
When Nodal died, Saba was still a child under 10 years old, but he was not intimidated, but firmly chose to sled, hoping to fulfill his cousin's wish and stand on the top of bobsleigh , the Winter Olympics.
"I'm not afraid at all." Saba said, "I've always missed Nodar. Thinking of Nordal was painful, but it also gave me strength. Everyone in my family is connected to sledding. After losing Nordal, I didn't want to let the sport of sledding fall silent in Georgia. I want the sport to continue. ”
Saba's family is also very supportive of his idea, "Every generation in our family has at least one bobsleigh player. My parents never objected to me practicing sledding. At this point, I think they want bobsleigh to be passed down in the family more than I am. ”
Saba is 21 years old, the exact age at which Nodar competed in the Vancouver Winter Olympics. He remembers the bobsleigh champion of that year, the German Felix Loch, who melted the gold medal he won into two pieces, one of which was engraved with a portrait of Nodar and the year of birth and death, and gave it to the Kumari Tashvili family.
Today, Loch remains a master of bobsleigh and is ready to chase his fourth Winter Olympic gold medal at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
Loch was very pleased to see Saba, like Nordal, standing side by side on the same field as him, "I'm very happy that he's here. Loch said it took a lot of courage for Saba to come here. He loves the sport, just like his cousin, and it's really great to see him fighting for his family. ”
The appearance of Saba Kumari Tashvili has made sled people around the world realize that the Olympic dream of the Kumari Tashweli family has not ended.
"I am very happy to represent my country and my family in the Olympic Games, I will never forget what happened at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, but Nodal brought me not only sadness, but more strength, so I am now qualified to stand in the Winter Olympics!" Saba said.
Today, the Kumari Tashweli family is still involved in everything related to bobsleigh, including the design of new tracks and the training of athletes, and is committed to training more excellent bobsleigh athletes.
Out of grief, the Olympic dream of the legendary Georgian bobsleigh family has been continued in Beijing.
Hats off to true love!
Hats off to the Olympic spirit!
Editor: Li Chenyan
Image source: Xinhua News Agency
Comprehensive: Xinhua News Agency, reference news