Sochowicz fractured his left kneecap and reduce his proper leg to the bone after hitting the barrier on the Yanqing Nationwide Sliding Centre that will probably be used for the Beijing Olympics in February.
The 25-year-old, who represented Poland on the 2018 Winter Olympics, stated the observe workforce had been gradual to react and he had spent half an hour on the ice earlier than being transported to hospital for surgical procedure.
“I bought the inexperienced gentle so I moved on. For the primary time, I used to be capable of calmly experience these two tough bends. All of a sudden, nevertheless, I noticed a closed gate on the observe,” he instructed Polish net portal Onet.
“I then let the sled out from beneath me and took the place like a downhill skier.
“I hoped that at this velocity I might be capable to leap over the barrier. Nonetheless, the whole lot was occurring too quick and I did not have time to bounce.
“That is why my legs are damaged, not the remainder of my physique. If I hadn’t reacted, it may have resulted in a tragedy.”
The Worldwide Luge Federation (FIL) acknowledged that there had been a “luge accident” on Monday afternoon which had resulted in Sochowicz being taken to hospital.
Reuters has requested remark from FIL and the 2022 Beijing Organising Committee (BOCOG).
“The observe workforce confirmed nice incompetence,” Sochowicz added.
“They did not know what to do in any respect. Somebody got here to me and tried to the touch my (uncovered) bone with a glove. Dante-esque scenes had been occurring there.”
Regardless of his accidents, Sochowicz stated he had not given up on competing in his second Olympics in February.
“I am not canceling myself but. I hope to start out in Beijing. If the FIL gave me a wild card and I may focus solely on restoration, possibly there could be an opportunity,” he instructed Onet.
“Nonetheless, there’s a larger downside. I do not know if I can rebuild mentally. I do not know if I’ll ever be capable to go on this observe, I might be afraid that one thing may be ready for me simply across the nook.”
On the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Georgian Nodar Kumaritashvili was killed throughout coaching on the luge run after dropping management at excessive velocity and being thrown over the sidewall of the observe and right into a metal help pole.
