Olympic Medalist Skier Audun Groenvold Dies After Getting Struck by Lightning

NEED TO KNOW

• Norwegian Olympic skier Audun Groenvold has died after getting struck by lightning during a recent cabin trip
• Groenvold, 49, won bronze at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver
• Groenvold later became a coach for Norway's national team and a television commentator

Norwegian Olympic skier Audun Groenvold has died after being struck by lightning, the country’s ski federation announced.

“It is with great sadness that we have received the news of Audun Groenvold's untimely passing,” the Norwegian Ski Federation said in a news release on Wednesday, July 16 announcing Groenvold’s death.

"The former national alpine and ski cross athlete was recently struck by lightning during a cabin trip,” the federation said. “He was quickly taken to hospital and treated for the injuries he sustained in the lightning strike.”

Groenvold died Tuesday night, however, the federation announced.

He was 49 years old. 

Groenvold won the bronze medal in ski cross at the 2010 Winter Olympics held in Vancouver, as well as a bronze medal at the World Championships in 1999 and a victory in the overall ski cross cup in 2007.

The Norwegian skier was remembered by his country’s ski federation on Wednesday as “an outstanding athlete on the national alpine team for a number of years before becoming a pioneer in Norwegian freestyle and ski cross.”

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After retiring from competitive skiing, Groenvold became a coach for Norway’s national team and also appeared on television as a commentator for skiing events, according to The Associated Press.

“He showed a burning commitment to the sport of skiing both as an active player, coach and leader,” the federation said.

Trove Moe Dyrhaug, the president of Norway’s Ski Federation, mourned Groenvold’s death in a statement.

“Norwegian skiing has lost a prominent figure, who has meant so much to both the alpine and freestyle communities,” Dyrhaug said. “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.”

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