Sophie Hediger: Swiss Olympic athlete dies in avalanche in Arosa

Two years ago Sophie Hediger took part in the Olympic Games in Beijing, last year she was on the podium in several World Cup races, and now the Swiss ski and snowboard scene is mourning the loss of one of its athletes: Sophie Hediger was in an avalanche accident in the east of the country died. The 26-year-old snowboard crosser was hit by an avalanche in Arosa on Monday, the Swiss Ski Association said.

“For the Swiss-Ski family, a dark shadow has fallen over the Christmas days with the tragic death of Sophie Hediger. We are incredibly sad. We will keep Sophie’s memory honorable,” said Walter Reusser, CEO Sport at Swiss-Ski, “We are stunned and our thoughts are with Sophie’s family, to whom we express our deepest condolences.”

The police in the canton of Graubünden reported the death of a snowboarder on Monday without revealing her identity. Accordingly, the victim trained off-piste with company. The buried victim was only found after two hours and resuscitation was not successful.

According to the association, the accident occurred while freeriding, “a beloved hobby” of Hediger. According to information from the Graubünden police, Hediger skied on the closed Black Diamond piste accompanied by another snow athlete. “They left the closed piste and the woman was caught in an avalanche on a slope. Her companion notified the rescue workers and went to search for the buried victim,” the police wrote.

Numerous athletes mourned Hediger and expressed their condolences on social media. Dario Caviezel, 29, reigning vice world champion in the parallel giant slalom, wrote on Instagram: “Ciao Sophie. Way too early and incredibly sad.” Hediger’s friend Dario Wüthrich plays ice hockey in the Swiss National League, at HC Ambri-Piotta. mourns the “Biancoblu family with Dario Wüthrich”. There the club writes: “The Hockey Club Ambrì-Piotta expresses its sincere sympathy for the sudden and tragic passing of Dario Wüthrich’s beloved partner Sophie.” The club wishes Wüthrich and Hedinger’s family “a lot of strength in the difficult hours of saying goodbye.”

Hedinger’s next big sporting goal was imminent: the home European Championships will take place in the Engadin in March, where she wanted to win a medal.