Rosen vows to continue until Sochi 2014

From Ryan Bangs, Sportsbeat, in Whistler

 BRITISH luge slider Adam Rosen admits his sport has been shaken to the core by the tragic death of Georgia's Nodar Kumaritashvili.

I'll BE BACK: Adam Rosen admits luge has been shaken by the death of Nodar Kumaritashvili but he vows to compete at Sochi 2014 (Getty Images)

But the 25-year old insisted he had no fears about racing on the controversial Whistler Sliding Centre track less than 24 hours after the accident which remains the talk of these Winter Olympics.

Rosen finished 16th in the men's singles, matching his result from Turin four years ago.

But he certainly knows the dangers of what is the quickest track ever designed. Five months ago he dislocated his hip, tore four muscles and badly bruised nerves in his left leg after coming off his sled during a training run in Whistler.

"Nodar's crash definitely brought back some bad memories," said Rosen. 

"To be honest, four months ago I didn't know if I was going to be here.

"After the accident I had no feeling in my leg for a long time but I came back a lot faster than a lot of doctors thought. 

"It still hurts sometimes, not as bad as in the past, but I still notice it. I don't think it helps my start, so I'm pleased with my result."

Last year Rosen showed what he could do with top-of-the-range equipment and recorded a sixth-place at the World Cup event in Calgary - the best-ever result by a British slider - on a sled borrowed from the well-funded Canadian team.

That prompted Sir Clive Woodward, British Olympic Association director of elite performance, to investigate his case in a bid to boost the otherwise meagre funds he was receiving from the cash-starved British Luge Association.

And despite failing to improve on his 16th place finish in Turin, as well as the tragic circumstances of the luge competition in Vancouver, Rosen insisted the controversy surrounding his sport won't deflect him from a third Olympic appearance in four years' time.

"From what I have heard they won't build a track as fast as this in the future," he added. 

"I want to be in Sochi and with some additional funds, hopefully it will happen. A lot of the top sliders are in their late thirties so there's still a long time for me to go."

AS IT HAPPENS: Day three of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver

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