Olympic snowboarder Sophie Hediger has tragically died at the age of 26.
The snowboarding community is grappling with heartbreak following the tragic death of Hediger, a 26-year-old Olympian, who was caught in an avalanche on Monday (December 23).
The devastating incident occurred in the mountain resort town of Arosa, Switzerland, as confirmed by the Swiss-Ski Federation on Tuesday, the New York Post reports.
“We are stunned and our thoughts are with Sophie’s family, to whom we express our deepest condolences,” said Walter Reusser, CEO of the Swiss-Ski Federation, in a heartfelt statement.
“For the Swiss Ski family, the tragic death of Sophie Hediger has cast a dark shadow over the Christmas holidays. We are immeasurably sad. We will keep an honorable memory of Sophie.”
Hediger’s passing comes just over a week after she celebrated her 26th birthday on December 14.
Although specific details surrounding the accident remain limited, the Swiss-Ski Federation stated it would not be releasing further information at the request of Hediger’s family.
On Monday, Grisons cantonal police announced that a snowboarder had died in an avalanche while backcountry skiing. Although they did not release the victim’s identity, French news outlet Le Parisien later linked the tragic event to Hediger.
According to reports, the snowboarder was found two hours after emergency services were first notified. Heavy snowfall in recent days had elevated the risk of avalanches in the region, officials noted. A police investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Hediger, who had deep ties to the Arosa slopes, was remembered by the Swiss-Ski Federation as someone whose life “came to a tragic, sudden and far too early end.”
She had represented Switzerland at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, competing in the women’s snowboard cross and the mixed team event.
Her career saw a meteoric rise in the 2023-24 season, highlighted by her first two World Cup podium finishes. Her personal best came in January 2023 when she placed second in St. Moritz.
After that performance, Hediger shared her joy in an Instagram post: “Wow! what just happened yesterday! got my first World Cup podium at home! couldn’t be happier.”
Her loss leaves a profound void in the snowboarding world.
Our thoughts go out to Hediger’s family, loved ones, and supporters at this time.