Who knew the luge was such a man-eater?

I can't imagine the 2010 Vancouver Games starting off on a more sour note than it has with this horrific, heart-wrenching, accident that occurred to a Georgian Luger, Nodar Kumaritsashvili, during a trial run.

Coming around one of the bends, his luge flung him off the track, sending him somersaulting through the air and ultimately, into a steel pillar on the other side. We should warn you that this video is not for the faint of heart.

Apparently, after repeated CPR attempts, Nodar was airlifted by helicopter off the course, and later pronounced dead. He was 21-years old and competing in his first Olympics.