WHISTLER (Reuters) - Georgian luge competitor Nodar Kumaritashvili was killed in a horrific training crash on Friday, according to unconfirmed media reports.

He left the track at high speed and crashed into a pole by the side of the course. Training was immediately suspended.

IOC officials were not immediately able to confirm to Reuters that he had died but other news sources quoted a report citing an unnamed Olympic official saying the 21-year-old had been killed.

(Editing by Jon Bramley)