Swiss snowboarder and Olympic medalist Ueli Kestenholz, 50, died in an avalanche, Berner Zeitung reports. A year ago, an avalanche killed 26-year-old Swiss snowboarder Sophie Hediger, a participant in the Beijing Olympics and Universiade champion.
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The Valais cantonal police said that an avalanche occurred at an altitude of about 2,400 meters in the municipality of Kipel. At that time, a snowboarder and a skier were on the eastern slope of the Hochhriz mountain. The avalanche took the snowboarder, who was later identified as Kestenholz.
The athlete, who was reached by rescuers, was transported by helicopter to Vispa Hospital and then transferred to Sion Hospital, where he died from his injuries.
Ueli Kestenholz won bronze in the giant slalom at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, when snowboarding was first included in the official Olympic program. During his eventful career, the Swiss athlete competed in two more Olympics, won two World Championships and won 14 World Cup events.
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After retiring in 2006, Kestenholz pursued extreme sports and focused on film and photography projects, which took him around the world. He is survived by his wife and two children, ages 9 and 17.
Previously, “FACTS” reported that the world freestyle champion was killed by an avalanche in Japan.
Photo Berner Zeitung, from social media
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