Ueli Kestenholz died in an avalanche in Switzerland, “Berner Zeitung” reported, citing the athlete's friends. Earlier, police in the canton of Valais reported that a snowboarder was carried away by an avalanche that came down from the top of Mount Hockuchriz. After the rescue, he was transported to a hospital in Sion.
The death was confirmed by the Swiss Ski Federation at noon on Tuesday. “We express our sincerest condolences to Ueli's family and loved ones,” said Swiss-Ski president Peter Barandun.
What medals did Ueli Kestenholz win at the Olympics?
How old was Ueli Kestenholz at the time of his death?
Where did Ueli Kestenholz die?
What activities did Ueli Kestenholz pursue after his sports career?
Ueli Kestenholz is dead. He won a bronze medal at the Olympics
Ueli Kestenholz became famous in the 1990s, when snowboarding was still a young discipline. In 1998, he won a bronze medal in snowboard giant slalom in Nagano, Japan, during the first time this event took part in the Olympic Games. He was also successful at the world championships: in 1995 he won bronze and in 1999 – silver.
However, his adventure with winter sports began with skiing. However, at the age of 14 he discovered snowboarding. — It gave me the opportunity to experience my favorite feeling, which is sliding sideways — he described his decision to change the discipline in an interview for Tamedia.
An Olympic medalist died in an avalanche. Ueli Kestenholz developed film projects
After the Olympic Games in Turin in 2006, Ueli Kestenholz ended his sports career. However, he did not give up outdoor activities: as a freerider and paraglider, he took part in many film and photographic projects.
The documentary about a speedriding adventure on the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau aroused particular interest among the audience. It was created in 2007 as part of the “Play Gravity” project and was implemented together with Kestenholz's friend, Mathias Roten. A year later, Roten died in a paragliding accident in Lötschental in the canton of Valais.
Despite this tragedy, Ueli Kestenholz did not abandon his passion. Following the motto on his website, “Life is too short for one sport”, he also organized splitboard camps and tandem flights. Until the very end, he actively spent time in nature, introduced others to his passions and shared them with like-minded people.
Ueli Kestenholz left behind his wife and two sons, aged 16 and 9.
