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The son of former Olympic ski star John Smart has died after suffering injuries during an avalanche in Japan.
Kai Smart, 23, was left in a coma due to the avalanche. John Smart said in a Facebook post that Kai was taken to Vancouver, Canada, for emergency treatment earlier this month before dying on Monday.
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John Smart of Canada skis down the hill at the World Freestyle Ski Championships in Altenmarkt, Austria, in 1993. (Chris Cole/All Sports)
“It is with immense sadness that we have to let you know that our kind, brave and beautiful son and brother Kai is no longer with us. We are beyond heartbroken and there are no words to describe the pain we feel at losing him so young,” John Smart wrote on Facebook.
He remembered his son as an adventurer who lived life to the fullest.
“Kai was a warrior, a mountain man, a world explorer, a lover of people from all walks of life, an inspiration to many, an honor student, a passionate skier, surfer, motorcyclist, climber, kitesurfer and much more… He lived life to the fullest every day, with joy, curiosity and intensity, and experienced more in his short time than most do in a lifetime. He truly was a shining light, and his energy, his enthusiasm for life and for learning, touched to everyone. who knew him,” the publication continued.
John Smart looks at how he missed out on a medal in the men’s mogul category at the 1993 World Freestyle Ski Championships. (Chris Cole/All Sports)
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“He was always looking for the road less traveled, drawn to new places, new ideas and new experiences. When he wasn’t out pushing his limits, he was constantly learning, researching and interacting with the world.”
Smart wrote that Kai’s organs were donated to four people.
The former Olympian competed for Team Canada in freestyle skiing. He participated in the 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics.
An Olympic rings flag at the University of Southern California on March 30, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Kirby Lee/Getty Images)
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He was inducted into the Canadian Ski Hall of Fame in 2003.
