Olympic Skier Tragically Dies at 49 After Being Struck by Lightning on Family Vacation

Audun Grønvold, a former Olympic skier from Norway, has died at the age of 49 after being struck by lightning. He was on a cabin vacation with his wife and three children when the tragedy occurred.

Medics Unable to Save Grønvold

Grønvold was rushed to hospital but died from his injuries on Tuesday, July 15. The Norwegian Ski Federation confirmed his death the next day.
Grønvold won a bronze medal in freestyle skiing at the 2010 Winter Olympics. Before that, he competed in alpine skiing and won national gold medals in 2003 and 2004. He later worked as a coach and TV commentator.

Heartfelt Tributes

His wife, Kristin Tandberg Haugsjå, wrote an emotional tribute on Facebook. “Audun, my great love and my best friend for twenty years… you left us,” she said. “The loss of you is enormous.”
Tove Moe Dyrhaug, president of the ski federation, said Norwegian skiing had “lost a prominent figure” and that Grønvold’s death leaves a “huge void.”

Fellow Olympian Kjetil André Aamodt called the news “terribly tragic” and said Grønvold was “one of the fastest and most agile athletes” he had seen.

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