Olympic skier from Norway meets tragic end after being struck by lightning during vacation at a family cabin
Norwegian Freestyle Skiing Legend Audun Grønvold Passes Away
Audun Grønvold, a celebrated Norwegian freestyle skier and a distinguished figure in both alpine and freestyle skiing, has tragically passed away. Grønvold was 49 years old and died on Tuesday night, following an incident that occurred on Saturday, July 12.
The exact location of the incident is not specified, but according to a Facebook post by Kristin Tandberg Haugsjaå, Grønvold was vacationing at their cabin with his family when the accident occurred. In a separate incident, three experienced mountaineers were killed in the Austrian Alps due to being struck by lightning while hiking.
Grønvold's career in skiing spanned over two decades, during which he made a significant impact on the sport. He began his career in alpine skiing, competing mainly in the speed events of Super-G and Downhill. He joined Norway’s national alpine team as a teenager and debuted in the World Cup in 1996. Throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, he consistently placed in the top 10 in alpine events and even earned a World Cup podium in downhill in 1999.
In 2004, Grønvold switched from alpine to freestyle skiing, specifically to ski cross. He quickly achieved success, winning a bronze medal at the 2005 Freestyle World Championships in Ruka, Finland, and clinching the overall Ski Cross World Cup title for the 2006-07 season. In 2007, he also won two World Cup ski cross races in France. His career highlight was winning the bronze medal in ski cross at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, the first Olympics to feature ski cross.
After retiring from competition in April 2010, Grønvold remained influential in the skiing world by taking on roles such as the national ski cross coach for Norway, a federation board member, and a TV commentator. His leadership and experience benefited both alpine and freestyle skiing communities in Norway. The Norwegian Ski Federation recognized his significant contributions, noting that his involvement created a lasting impact on the sport and that his passing left “a big void” in both alpine and freestyle skiing circles.
Grønvold is survived by his wife, Kristin Tandberg Haugsjaå, and three children. Tove Moe Dyrhaug, the president of the Norwegian ski federation, has expressed condolences for the loss of Audun Grønvold.
[1] Norwegian Ski Federation [2] Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation [3] International Ski Federation [4] Olympics
The Norwegian Ski Federation mourns the loss of Audun Grønvold, a prominent figure in both alpine and freestyle skiing, who passed away at the age of 49. His career spanned over two decades, during which he made significant contributions to sports, particularly in ski cross.
Grønvold's influence extended beyond his competitive years, as he continued to contribute to sports through roles such as the national ski cross coach for Norway and a TV commentator.
