I saw on Twitter this morning a link to Bob Greene’s article entitled Olympic spirit fails a test. While I agree with him that the Olympic Committee’s response was lousy, I wanted to take a moment to comment. Why?
Because it was Nodar’s responsibility the moment he got on the sled.
I’m a motorcyclist and I take part in a lot of track days. For those of you not familiar with the track day concept, it’s where an organization rents a racetrack and then charges individuals to go ride on it. Most of these organizations do as much as they can conceive to run a safe, fun track day.
But on the other side of that coin, you have us, the riders. We’re out there trying to push our own personal skills envelope, to be faster, to wring every bit of performance out of ourselves and our machines. And sometimes a rider gets too far outside that envelope, and crashes.
And sometimes a rider dies.
And whose fault is it? My personal feeling is this – once I swing a leg over that machine and take control of it, everything that happens next is my responsibility. If I happen to die while doing this thing that I love, it’s nobody’s fault but my own. And I have told my significant others as much. I will not have my memory marred by lawsuits against the racetrack, other riders, or the track day organization.
I think Nodar Kumaritashvili might have felt the same way – I know many of us who participate in dangerous sports do. So mourn Nodar, and let the Olympic Committee know how poor their reaction was, but forget about trying to place blame. Let’s not mar Nodar’s memory that way.
great post and example we all need to follow – personal responsibility for our actions. I drive a car and when the tires blow i dont blame the tire manufacture or the mechanic that installed them.
Glenn
Posted by Glenn Sarver on July 22nd, 2010.