Norwegian ski cross racer and 2010 Olympic medalist die at the age of 49 after lightning strike

The Norwegian Ski Federation announced on Wednesday that Olympic Ski Cross winner Audun Groenvold died from lightning strikes. He is 49 years old.

Groenvold won a bronze medal at the 2010 Vancouver Games.

“We are very sad to receive news about Audun Groenvold’s outdated news,” the Federation said. “The former national alpine skier and ski cross athlete was recently struck by lightning during a trip.”

Grohn Wald was “quickly taken to the hospital and treated for the injuries he suffered in lightning strikes” before he died Tuesday night, the federal said.

Groenvold was a member of Norwegian alpine skiing team before moving into the freestyle and ski cross. He won a podium as a World Cup alpine skier and ranked third in the downhill race in Spain in 1999.

He also won a bronze medal at the ski cross at the 2005 World Championships and won the entire Ski Cross in 2007.

After his career, he became a national team coach and television commentator.

“Norwegian skiing has lost a prominent figure and has a lot to the alpine and freestyle communities,” said federal president Moe Dyrhaug, adding that his death created a “huge gap.”