Sophie Hediger, a Swiss snowboarder who represented the country at the 2022 Winter Olympics, died after an avalanche at a ski resort, authorities said Tuesday. She was 26 years old.
The incident occurred on Monday at the Arosa resort in Switzerland, the country’s ski federation said in a statement.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PakGazette.Com
Sophie Hediger of Switzerland competes during the women’s snowboard cross qualification round at the Winter Olympics on February 9, 2022, in Zhangjiakou, China. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila, File)
“We are stunned and in solidarity with Sophie’s family, to whom we express our deepest condolences,” Swiss-Ski CEO Walter Reusser said in a statement.
“With the tragic death of Sophie Hediger, the Christmas days of the Swiss ski family are darkened. We are immensely sad. We will keep Sophie in honorable memory,” he added.
HOPEFUL OLYMPIC GAMES BOSS VIVES TO EXPLORE BAN ON TRANS ATHLETES AMID GLOBAL OUTRAGE
Hediger participated in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. He competed in snowboard cross and mixed team snowboard cross. He failed to qualify for the quarterfinals in the individual event and his team lost in the mixed event in the semifinals.
Hediger bounced back in 2023 when he won a gold medal at the FISU World University Games in Lake Placid, New York. She was one of three Swiss participants to win gold medals.
Charlotte Bankes of Great Britain, Sophie Hediger of Switzerland and Kristina Paul of the Russian Olympic Committee in action. (Reuters/Lisi Niesner)
He then achieved two World Cup podiums, including a second place finish in St. Mortiz in January.
