Swiss Olympic Snowboarder Sophie Hediger Dies at Age 26 in Avalanche

Swiss Olympic snowboarder Sophie Hediger died at 26 years old following an avalanche at the Arosa mountain resort in Switzerland on Monday.

The Associated Press noted Switzerland's skiing federation released a statement Tuesday confirming the death of the 2022 Olympic competitor.

"We are shocked and our thoughts are with Sophie's family, to whom we offer our deepest condolences," Swiss-Ski CEO Walter Reusser said in the statement. "(She lost her life) tragically, brutally and far too soon."

Christian Arnold of the New York Post noted Grisons cantonal police announced Monday that a snowboarder died in the avalanche, although it never released Hediger's name.

According to Arnold, she was not located until two hours after emergency services were notified of the situation unfolding in the backcountry area.

Hediger was best known for competing in the 2022 Beijing Games, but she also finished in second place in St. Moritz in January and accomplished her first two World Cup podium finishes during the 2023-24 season.

She competed in the women's snowboard cross and the mixed team snowboard cross for Switzerland during those 2022 Olympics.