Norwegian Olympic skier dies aged 49 after being struck by lightning
Olympic medallist Audun Groenvold has died after being struck by lightning.
The 49-year-old Norwegian freestyle skier won bronze at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, Canada.
The Sun reports his tragic passing was announced by the Norwegian Ski Federation.
They confirmed Groenvold had been struck by lightning during a trip to a cabin owned by his family.
He was rushed to hospital but passed away shortly after arriving on Tuesday night.
Groenvold was a popular member of Norway’s Alpine skiing team before he moved into freestyle and ski cross in the late 90s.
He first broke onto the scene with an impressive podium finish in a downhill in Sierra Nevada, Spain, in 1999 as a World Cup Alpine skier.
More success soon followed as he won a bronze medal in ski cross at the 2005 world championships.
Two years later he again came third in the overall ski cross cup before his career best performance at the 2010 Winter Olympics.
After his career ended, he became a national team coach and a beloved sports commentator.
Norwegian federation president Tove Moe Dyrhaug said: “Norwegian skiing has lost a prominent figure, who has meant so much to both the Alpine and freestyle communities.
“Audun had a great career in both alpine skiing and ski cross, before becoming the national ski cross coach.
“The Norwegian Ski Association also remembers his efforts on the ski board. There will be a big void after Audun.”
Marius Arnesen, who coached Groenvold in the early 2000s, told local newspaper Verdens Gang: “It’s just terribly sad and tragic.
“[He was] a thoughtful and wonderful boy who, when it comes to skiing, had a fantastic feeling for the surface in the snow.”
Groenvold was born in Hamar, a lakeside town about 80 miles north of Norway’s capital of Oslo.
He is survived by his wife, Kristin Tandberg Haugsjå, and three children.
