OLYMPIC snowboarder Sophie Hediger has tragically died aged 26.<br /><br />Hediger passed away on Monday after being caught up in an avalanche at Swiss mountain resort Arosa.<br /><br />She had been a member of Switzerland's snowboard cross-national team.<br /><br />Hediger was part of the Swiss squad that took part in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.<br /><br />She also achieved her first two World Cup podium positions during the 2023-24 season.<br /><br />Swiss-Ski sport chief executive Walter Reusser said: "We are speechless and our thoughts are with Sophie's family, to whom we express our deepest condolences.<br /><br />"For the Swiss-Ski family, the tragic death of Sophie has cast a dark shadow over the Christmas period. We are immeasurably sad."<br /><br />The 2025 FIS Snowboard World Championships are set to take place in St Moritz in March.<br /><br />Hediger had finished second in an event at St Moritz back in January.<br /><br />She was in a relationship with Swiss ice hockey player Dario Wuthrich.<br /><br /><br />His club, HC Ambri Piotta, posted an emotional tribute to Hediger.<br /><br />They wrote on X: "The Ambrì-Piotta Hockey Club joins defender Dario Wuthrich in mourning the sudden and tragic passing of his beloved partner Sophie.<br /><br />"Our most sincere condolences to Sophie's family and Dario and a big hug from the whole white and blue family."<br /><br />Swiss Olympic medal-winning snowboarder Jan Scherrer wrote on Instagram: "This breaks my heart. We will remember you, Sophie.<br /><br />"Be safe out there guys!"<br />Plenty of fans have also taken to social media to pay their respects.<br /><br />One wrote: "Terrible. My condolences to the family."<br /><br />While a second commented: "This is truly heartbreaking."<br /><br />A third said: "May she rest in peace."<br /><br />And another added: "Praying for the family."
