Fans of European snowboarding were horrified this week to learn that Swiss Olympian Sophie Hediger passed away.

According to the New York Post, Hediger was snowboarding in the Swiss mountain resort town of Arosa on Monday when she was swept up by an avalanche.

Athlete's death came not long after her 26th birthday

The Post pointed out that Hediger died just a week and a half after the young athlete had celebrated her 26th birthday.

Hediger's tragic death was announced in a statement by Walter Reusser, who serves as CEO of the Swiss-Ski Federation.

"We are stunned and our thoughts are with Sophie’s family, to whom we express our deepest condolences," Reusser was quoted as saying.

"For the Swiss Ski family, the tragic death of Sophie Hediger has cast a dark shadow over the Christmas holidays. We are immeasurably sad. We will keep an honorable memory of Sophie," he continued.

Reusser went on to add that the Swiss-Ski Federation will not be releasing additional details concerning Hediger's passing at the request of her family.

A promising career cut short

The Post recalled how Hediger represented Switzerland in the women's snowboard cross as well as the mixed team event in the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.

Hediger followed that experience up with two World Cup podium finishes in 2023 and 2024, with her best results coming earlier this year when she placed second in St. Moritz.

She touted that achievement in an Instagram post this past January, writing, "Wow! what just happened yesterday! Got my first World Cup podium at home!"

"Big thanks to my friends [and] family who [were] cheering for me," she continued before expressing gratitude to her coaches and sponsors.

Tributes to Hediger appear on social media

Hediger's death brought tributes on social media, with one person lamenting that "the winter sports community mourns a bright talent gone too soon."

RIP Sophie Hediger 🙏💔 Snowboarder from Switzerland who competed in the 2022 Beijing Olympics dies in avalanche at just 26 years old 🏂❄️ Her talent and spirit will be deeply missed 😢 pic.twitter.com/Vzezofivoc

— Walker Spearson (@SpearsonWa83643) December 24, 2024

Another X user spoke up as well, writing, "I'm simply shook. I've just learned my friend Sophie Hediger was killed in an avalanche."

"We were having a blast a while back, she helped me to learn how to be a better snowboarder. You were a beautiful Olympic athlete who was fun, authentic, genuine," the person added.