It certainly is a tragedy, but it is not the first death in a winter Olympics.  As areas decide they need to push the speed envelope, injury and death become more inevitable.  This run has a vertical drop of almost 500 feet.  The last few have been under 400 feet.

The speeds are anticipated to exceed 100 miles per hour during competition.  

I do anticipate that the stanchions will be padded before the next runs.

Hopefully this will be the last tragic event of these Olympics!