On Saturday, the 10th, during a skiing competition in Switzerland, Canadian athlete Nick Zoricic met with tragedy in a cross-country skiing event. This marked the second fatal accident in cross-country skiing within two months. Zoricic suffered severe head injuries after hitting the safety net during his final jump and later died.
Two months earlier, another Canadian freestyle skiing star, Sarah Burke, also had a fatal accident while training on the same course. Both Burke and Zoricic, the victims of these two "bizarre accidents," were just 29 years old.
In a phone interview, International Ski Federation Secretary-General Sarah Lewis stated that all safety measures during the competition were in place, and Zoricic’s death could only be described as a terrible tragedy. She also emphasized the inherent risks of cross-country skiing, calling it a "high-risk sport." Meanwhile, IOC President Jacques Rogge spoke highly of Zoricic: "Zoricic was a very young and talented athlete. His death while doing what he loved most is also a very sad day for the Olympic movement."
Cross-country skiing made its debut at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics as the IOC’s latest attempt to enhance the excitement of the games. It is a highly dangerous sport, as thrilling as "NASCAR racing."
Despite the inherent risks of the competition, Max Gartner, president of the Alpine Club of Canada, said he was still satisfied with the safety precautions at the Grindelwald event in Switzerland. "We have great confidence in this World Cup event because there are many regulations and inspection personnel present to assist in protection." Regarding Zoricic’s death, he said: "Zoricic was a 'model athlete' who dedicated his life to skiing. It was an honor to know him and work with him. I think this was a bizarre accident—it has a very low probability of happening, but when it does, it is devastating."
A statement from the International Ski Federation said that after being injured, Zoricic was urgently airlifted to a hospital in Interlaken for treatment but was later pronounced dead due to "severe neurological trauma." The federation stated, "At the end of the eighth section of the race, we felt Zoricic falling rapidly, then saw him heading straight for the safety net, after which he lay on the ground unconscious."
Zoricic had been competing in the World Cup tour for three years, and Saturday’s race was his 36th. He ranked fifth in the last season’s World Cup skiing standings and achieved eighth place at the 2011 Skiing World Championships. His teammate, Ashley McIvor, won the first-ever cross-country skiing gold medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Following Zoricic’s accident, the organizing committee canceled all men’s and women’s World Cup races on Saturday, and the finals scheduled for Sunday were also called off.
"We are all deeply saddened, even in disbelief. We have strict protective measures, but cross-country skiing is just an inherently dangerous sport," said Christoph Egger, chairman of the event organizing committee. "We knew before that there was a risk of serious injury, but today’s accident shows us that there is also a risk of death." He added that guardrails had been added on both sides of the course to protect athletes.
Zoricic’s death has intensified discussions about safety measures in skiing competitions, especially for freestyle skiing. More events will be added at the 2014 Winter Olympics, such as halfpipe and slopestyle skiing for both snowboard and ski disciplines.
The council will work with Swiss skiing officials to study safety issues in the event, and legal experts from Bern will also be involved in the investigation. "Experts will discuss and research from multiple aspects including technical and training factors. We will strive to improve any measures that can ensure athlete safety," Lewis said.
Zoricic was born in Sarajevo, Bosnia, the year before it hosted the 1984 Winter Olympics. He moved to Canada with his father when he was five.
Many skiers expressed condolences over Zoricic’s death. American athlete Ted Ligety expressed his grief on Twitter: "Skiing is a sport of both giving and taking. Losing Zoricic is a very sad day."
Organizers held a brief memorial service for the Canadian team on Saturday evening to honor Zoricic’s passing.