Swiss snowboard cross Olympian Sophie Hediger dies in avalanche
The 26-year-old, who scored her first two World Cup podium finishes last season, was caught in an avalanche in Arosa.
Snowboard
Snowboard cross athlete Sophie Hediger has died after being caught in an avalanche in Arosa. She was 26.
The Swiss Ski Federation (Swiss-Ski) announced the news on Tuesday (24 December), a day after her passing.
Swiss-Ski Sport CEO Walter Reusser said, "We are stunned and our thoughts are with Sophie's family to whom we express our deepest condolences.
"For the Swiss Ski family, the tragic death of Sophie Hediger has cast a dark shadow over the Christmas holidays."
Hediger won silver at the Lillehammer 2016 Winter Youth Olympic Games before competing in the individual and mixed team snowboard cross events at Beijing 2022.
She made a FIS World Cup breakthrough last season, securing her first podium finish by taking second at St. Moritz in late January. A week later, she was third at Gudauri in Georgia.
The rising star was born and raised in Horgen near Lake Zurich, but spent much of her time freeriding at the Arosa resort where she suffered her fatal accident.