Norwegian freestyle skier Audun Groenvold, a bronze medalist at the 2010 Winter Olympics, has tragically passed away at the age of 49 after being struck by lightning. The Norwegian Ski Federation confirmed the sad news on Wednesday, revealing that Groenvold was struck by lightning during a cabin trip and succumbed to his injuries after being rushed to the hospital.
Tove Moe Dyrhaug, the president of the federation, expressed deep sadness at the loss, describing Groenvold as a significant figure in Norwegian skiing who made substantial contributions to both alpine and freestyle skiing communities. Groenvold, who previously competed in alpine skiing and ski cross before transitioning to coaching, left a lasting impact on the sport.
Having begun his skiing career in alpine skiing, Groenvold later excelled in freestyle and ski cross disciplines. He achieved notable success, including a third-place finish in a downhill event in Sierra Nevada, Spain, as a World Cup Alpine skier. Groenvold also secured bronze medals in ski cross competitions at the 2005 world championships and the ski cross cup in subsequent years.
Following his retirement from competitive skiing, Groenvold continued to contribute to the sport as a coach for the national team and a commentator. His former coach, Marius Arnesen, fondly remembered Groenvold as a talented skier with a remarkable affinity for snow surfaces.
Audun Groenvold is survived by his wife, Kristin Tandberg Haugsjå, and their three children.