Norwegian Olympic Medalist Audun Groenvold Dies After Lightning Strike

Olympic skis transverse medalist Audun Groenvold has died aft being struck by lightning, nan Norwegian skis federation announced connected Wednesday. He was 49.

Groenvold won bronze astatine nan 2010 Vancouver Games.

“It is pinch awesome sadness that we person received nan news of Audun Groenvold’s untimely passing,” nan federation said. “The erstwhile nationalist Alpine skier and skis transverse jock was precocious struck by lightning during a compartment trip.”

The federation said Groenvold was “quickly taken to infirmary and received curen for nan injuries he sustained successful nan lightning strike” but died connected Tuesday night.

Groenvold was a personnel of Norway’s Alpine skiing squad earlier he moved into freestyle and skis cross. He had 1 podium decorativeness arsenic a World Cup Alpine skier, finishing 3rd successful a downhill successful Sierra Nevada, Spain, successful 1999.

He besides won a bronze badge successful skis transverse astatine nan 2005 world championships, and nan wide skis transverse cup successful 2007.

After his profession ended, he became a nationalist squad coach and a TV commentator.

“Norwegian skiing has mislaid a salient figure, who has meant truthful overmuch to some nan Alpine and freestyle communities,” federation president Tove Moe Dyrhaug said, adding that his passing creates “a immense void.”