Olympic snowboarder Ueli Kestenholz has died aged 50 in an avalanche.
The Swiss legend, who made history when he won snowboarding’s first-ever Olympic medal, was killed in the Lotschental valley on Sunday.
Kestenholz was airlifted to the hospital after he and a friend were caught in the horror incident.
The Swiss Ski Federation released a tribute honouring the pioneer.
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They said: "His life was far too short. Swiss-Ski and the snowboard community are devastated.
"Ueli didn’t just love snowboarding in all its facets.
"After retiring from competitive sports in 2006, he remained a professional outdoor athlete - right up to his last breath.
"He was a freerider, speedrider, paraglider pilot, kitesurfer, skydiver, surfer, wingfoiler, mountain biker - a true crossover athlete.”
Ueli Kestenholz won bronze in 1998
|REUTERS
Swiss-Ski President Peter Barandun added: "We extend our deepest condolences to Ueli’s family and loved ones."
Kestenholz competed for Switzerland in the first-ever Olympic snowboarding event in 1998, where he won bronze.
The men's giant slalom was the inaugural Olympic snowboarding event, with Ross Rebagliati of Canada winning the first gold medal.
Kestenholz was later the snowboard World Champion in 2000 and 2001.
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Kestenholz quit the World Cup circuit to focus entirely on Freeriding in 2006
|GETTY
After his third Olympic Games in Turin 2006, Kestenholz quit the World Cup circuit to focus entirely on Freeriding.
Snowboarding will be included in the 2026 Winter Olympics, which kicks off in four weeks' time.
It has been part of the ever since Kestenholz won bronze
The only new sport added for the 2026 Games is ski mountaineering.
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