Swiss Olympian Snowboarder Sophie Hediger Dies at 26 in Avalanche: 'We Are Stunned'

Mar. 15, 2025

Sophie Hediger takes 2nd place during the FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup Men’s and Women’s Snowboard Cross on January 26, 2024.Photo:Millo Moravski/Agence Zoom/Getty

Millo Moravski/Agence Zoom/Getty

Olympian snowboarder Sophie Hediger died in an avalanche on Monday, Dec. 23, the Swiss-Ski federation announced.“Sophie Hediger, a member of the snowboard cross national team, died on Monday in an avalanche accident in Arosa at the age of just 26,” the federationconfirmed.“We are stunned and our thoughts are with Sophie’s family, to whom we express our deepest condolences,” said Swiss-Ski CEO Walter Reusser.“For the Swiss Ski family, the tragic death of Sophie Hediger has cast a dark shadow over the Christmas holidays,” Reusser continued. “We are immeasurably sad. We will keep an honorable memory of Sophie,” the CEO added.The federation asked for privacy for Hediger’s family and listed some of her accomplishments in the sport. In 2023 and 2024, she achieved her first two World Cup podium places and came in second in the World Cup dress rehearsal in St. Moritz.On Dec. 15, she excitedly posted about a recent competition in Italy. “Crashed in 1/4-finals.💁‍♀️🌨️ happy about my riding and my best qualification I’ve ever had with p3,” Hedigerwrotein her caption.Sophie Hediger at the FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup Men’s and Women’s Snowboard Cross on January 26, 2024.Millo Moravski/Agence Zoom/GettyAccording to the federation, Hediger fulfilled one of her “sporting dreams” as a member of the Swiss national team at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.She also dreamed of winning a medal at the World Championships in Engadin, Switzerland in March 2025.“In consultation with the bereaved family and her partner, Swiss-Ski will not provide any further information about Sophie Hediger’s passing and asks that the privacy of the mourners be respected,” the federation said in their statement.

Olympian snowboarder Sophie Hediger died in an avalanche on Monday, Dec. 23, the Swiss-Ski federation announced.

“Sophie Hediger, a member of the snowboard cross national team, died on Monday in an avalanche accident in Arosa at the age of just 26,” the federationconfirmed.

“We are stunned and our thoughts are with Sophie’s family, to whom we express our deepest condolences,” said Swiss-Ski CEO Walter Reusser.

“For the Swiss Ski family, the tragic death of Sophie Hediger has cast a dark shadow over the Christmas holidays,” Reusser continued. “We are immeasurably sad. We will keep an honorable memory of Sophie,” the CEO added.

The federation asked for privacy for Hediger’s family and listed some of her accomplishments in the sport. In 2023 and 2024, she achieved her first two World Cup podium places and came in second in the World Cup dress rehearsal in St. Moritz.

On Dec. 15, she excitedly posted about a recent competition in Italy. “Crashed in 1/4-finals.💁‍♀️🌨️ happy about my riding and my best qualification I’ve ever had with p3,” Hedigerwrotein her caption.

Sophie Hediger at the FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup Men’s and Women’s Snowboard Cross on January 26, 2024.Millo Moravski/Agence Zoom/Getty

According to the federation, Hediger fulfilled one of her “sporting dreams” as a member of the Swiss national team at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

She also dreamed of winning a medal at the World Championships in Engadin, Switzerland in March 2025.

“In consultation with the bereaved family and her partner, Swiss-Ski will not provide any further information about Sophie Hediger’s passing and asks that the privacy of the mourners be respected,” the federation said in their statement.

source: people.com