Who was Ueli Kestenholz? Olympic snowboard bronze medalist dies at 50 after Swiss Alps avalanche accident during winter ride

Ueli Kestenholz, an Olympic bronze medal-winning snowboarder, has died at the age of 50 after being caught in an avalanche in Switzerland. The tragic accident happened while he was snowboarding with a friend in the Swiss Alps.

The Swiss Ski Federation confirmed his death on Tuesday, January 13.Kestenholz was trapped under the snow after an avalanche struck the eastern slope of Hockuchriz mountain at around 7,900 feet. Rescue teams reached him and pulled him out, but he was badly hurt. He was flown by helicopter to a hospital in Visp and later moved to another hospital in Sion. Sadly, doctors could not save him.He was best known for winning a bronze medal in snowboard giant slalom at the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics.

That year was special because it was the first time snowboarding was included in the Olympic Games. His death has left the winter sports world in shock.Swiss Ski president Peter Barandun shared a message in a press release. He said, “We extend our deepest condolences to Ueli’s family and loved ones.” Police in Valais, Switzerland, said the cause of the avalanche is still not known. The incident is now under investigation by the Public Prosecutor’s Office.

Ueli Kestenholz’s Olympic journey, X Games success, and love for freedom in snowboarding

Ueli Kestenholz was more than just an Olympic medalist. He was a true all-round athlete. After his bronze medal in 1998, he returned to the Olympics two more times, in 2002 and 2006, before retiring from Olympic competition.Outside the Olympics, Kestenholz found big success at the X Games. He won gold medals in snowboard cross in 2003 and 2004. Swiss Ski later described him as a “true crossover athlete.” He also enjoyed surfing, skydiving, mountain biking, skiing, and many other extreme sports.In a 2023 interview with the Swiss newspaper Tages-Anzeiger, Kestenholz spoke about why he loved snowboarding so much. He said, “Skiing came with obligations; there were training times you had to stick to, marked courses you had to follow. Snowboarding, on the other hand, was pure freedom.”He later shifted his focus to freeride snowboarding, choosing natural slopes instead of marked trails. In another interview with Swiss media company Tamedia, he explained his lifestyle.

He said, “Snowboarding offered the opportunity to experience my favorite feeling, gliding sideways, even in winter.”Even at 50, Kestenholz stayed active. His Instagram showed him paragliding, parakiting, and wingfoiling just days before the accident. In one post from January 8, he wrote, “To enjoy those rare moments when nature’s wonders align you need to be ready to drop everything and go!”Also Read: Michael Phelps' Net Worth Timeline (2016–2026): Inside The Massive Fortune Of The Most Decorated Swimmer Ever