Swiss Olympian Snowboarder Sophie Hediger Dies at 26 in Avalanche: ‘We Are Stunned’

Olympian snowboarder Sophie Hediger died in an avalanche on Monday, Dec. 23, the Swiss-Ski federation announced.

“Sophie Hediger, a member of the snowboard cross national team, died on Monday in an avalanche accident in Arosa at the age of just 26,” the federation confirmed.

“We are stunned and our thoughts are with Sophie’s family, to whom we express our deepest condolences,” said Swiss-Ski CEO Walter Reusser.

“For the Swiss Ski family, the tragic death of Sophie Hediger has cast a dark shadow over the Christmas holidays,” Reusser continued. “We are immeasurably sad. We will keep an honorable memory of Sophie,” the CEO added.

The federation asked for privacy for Hediger’s family and listed some of her accomplishments in the sport. In 2023 and 2024, she achieved her first two World Cup podium places and came in second in the World Cup dress rehearsal in St. Moritz.

On Dec. 15, she excitedly posted about a recent competition in Italy. “Crashed in 1/4-finals.💁‍♀️🌨️ happy about my riding and my best qualification I’ve ever had with p3,” Hediger wrote in her caption.

According to the federation, Hediger fulfilled one of her “sporting dreams” as a member of the Swiss national team at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.

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She also dreamed of winning a medal at the World Championships in Engadin, Switzerland in March 2025.

“In consultation with the bereaved family and her partner, Swiss-Ski will not provide any further information about Sophie Hediger’s passing and asks that the privacy of the mourners be respected,” the federation said in their statement.