Olympic Worker Struck by Bobsled in Track

An Olympic track worker who was struck by a bobsled today broke both legs and may have a concussion, according to IOC officials. The worker was on the track when he was hit by a forerunning sled near the finish line at the Sanki Sliding Center, just before the start of two-man bobsled training. "We still do not know why he was in this zone and exactly what happened," says IOC President Thomas Bach. "This zone" apparently refers to an area just before the finish line, which would suggest that the sled likely had not yet started to brake.

Forerunning sleds are used before training and competition sessions to assess track conditions and make sure the facility is safe for racing. The sled that struck him was the second "forerunner" used before the training session. "According to standard procedure, a warning signal was given ahead of the forerunners' bob beginning its run on the track," Sochi organizers said in a statement. The Sochi track was designed to be safer following the death of luger Nodar Kumarishtavili in an accident hours before the opening ceremonies of the Vancouver Games. There have been no major mishaps during any of the competition so far, and athletes have been complimentary of the track's condition. "To be honest, the ice is phenomenal," US skeleton racer Katie Uhlaender said a few hours before the accident. (More 2014 Sochi Olympics stories.)