Dutch four and two-man bob pilot Edwin van Calker has withdrawn from the Winter Olympics, saying he is concerned about safety and has no confidence left.

‘This has nothing to do with the Olympic Games,’ he said. ‘It is simply a lack of confidence. You cannot close your eyes to what has happened.’
Van Calker, 30, said he had been affected by the death of a Georgian luge racer before the games started. Last year he had a crash on the same track and his brother and another man were seriously injured. Van Calker also crashed in training for the two-man competition.
The decision means the Dutch team has been forced to withdraw from the competition. ‘It is a shame for us, but also for Edwin,’ said team member Arno Klaassen. ‘We have taken the decision as a team, but with Edwin in a leading role. He is gutted about it.’
According to the New York Times, Edwin’s older brother Arnold van Calker pulled out of the team first.
The Australian four-man bob team has also withdrawn from the event.
For the New York Times report on this, click here