Swiss snowboard cross Olympian Sophie Hediger dies in avalanche

Snowboard cross athlete Sophie Hediger has died after being caught in an avalanche in Arosa. She was 26.

The Swiss Ski Federation (Swiss-Ski) introduced the information on Tuesday (24 December), a day after her passing.

Swiss-Ski Sport CEO Walter Reusser stated, “We’re surprised and our ideas are with Sophie’s household to whom we specific our deepest condolences.

“For the Swiss Ski household, the tragic dying of Sophie Hediger has solid a darkish shadow over the Christmas holidays.”

Hediger received silver on the Lillehammer 2016 Winter Youth Olympic Video games earlier than competing within the particular person and combined staff snowboard cross occasions at Beijing 2022.

She made a FIS World Cup breakthrough final season, securing her first podium end by taking second at St. Moritz in late January. Per week later, she was third at Gudauri in Georgia.

The rising star was born and raised in Horgen close to Lake Zurich, however spent a lot of her time freeriding on the Arosa resort the place she suffered her deadly accident.