Former Olympic snowboarder Julie Pomagalski has died in an avalanche in the Swiss Alps. She was 40.
Pomagalski competed in the parallel big slalom at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics and the 2006 Turin Games. She won gold in a snowboard cross at the 1999 world championships.
The French Ski Federation said Wednesday that Pomagalski died Tuesday but did not specify the location. French and Swiss media widely reported that the avalanche occurred on Mount Gemsstock in the canton of Uri in Switzerland.
The alliance said its guide, Bruno Cutelli, also died in the avalanche.
Uri police said four Frenchmen rode freely rescued from Gemsstock.
“Suddenly there was an avalanche for unknown reasons,” a police statement said. “As a result, three people slipped down the slope with the avalanche. One person was slightly injured and was flown by Rega to Kantonsspital hospital Uri. The other two were completely covered. Any help came too late for them. ”
Police did not identify the victims. The rescue team included two avalanche inspection dogs.
The French Olympic team offered their condolences on Twitter.
“The tragic death of Julie, an Olympic player and snowman around the world, leaves the French Olympic team mourning for one of themselves,” the team said.
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