Ueli Kestenholz, who won snowboarding's first Olympic medal in 1998, dies in Swiss avalanche

Sports

Ueli Kestenholz, who won snowboarding's first Olympic medal in 1998, dies in Swiss avalanche

The 50-year-old was snowboarding in Valais when avalanche struck at 7,900 feet, with cause of slide remaining unclear

Stephen Sorace Fox News

Published

January 13, 2026 10:53am EST

Video

Fox News Flash top headlines for January 13

Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on FoxNews.com.

NEW

You can now listen to Fox News articles!

Ueli Kestenholz, the Swiss snowboard pioneer who won bronze at snowboarding’s Olympic debut, has died after an avalanche in Switzerland. He was 50.

Kestenholz was snowboarding Sunday in the Lötschental valley of Valais when he was swept away and buried in the avalanche, the Swiss ski federation said Tuesday.

He was with a friend who was skiing in the valley when the avalanche started at an altitude of 7,900 feet (2,400 meters), Valais police said in a statement. Officials said it remained unclear what triggered the avalanche.

The friend dug out the trapped Kestenholz before a helicopter airlifted them to a hospital, police said.

US OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL SNOWBOARDER CHLOE KIM'S MILAN-CORTINA HOPES IN DOUBT AFTER SHOCKING INJURY

Ueli Kestenholz holding Nagano bronze medal

Snowboard bronze winner in Nagano, Ueli Kestenholz, presents his medal on Monday, Feb. 16, 1998, in front of the town hall in his hometown of Thun, Switzerland. (Edi Engeler/Keystone via AP)

Kestenholz helped write Olympic snowboarding history when he was thrust into the spotlight at the 1998 Winter Games in Nagano, Japan, at just 22 years old.

The Games that year marked snowboarding’s debut as an Olympic event. Kestenholz took home the bronze medal for Switzerland in the parallel giant slalom — the first snowboard decision in Olympic history, the Swiss ski federation said.

Ueli Kestenholz snowboarding in competition

Ueli Kestenholz from Switzerland passes a gate during qualification for the men's duel slalom World Championships ISF (International Snowboarding Federation) in Val di Sole, Italy Jan. 28, 1999. (Reuters)

The Swiss racer competed at two more Winter Games, was twice snowboardcross champion at the X-Games and continued a professional career in extreme sports.

MEXICAN AUTHORITIES SEIZE $40M IN MOTORCYCLES FROM OLYMPIC SNOWBOARDER TURNED FUGITIVE, FBI SAYS

The ski federation said Kestenholz should be remembered not only for his love of snowboarding, but for being "a true crossover athlete."

"After retiring from competitive sports in 2006, he remained a professional outdoor athlete — until his last breath," the federation said, noting that Kestenholz was a freerider, speed rider, paraglider pilot, kite surfer, skydiver, surfer, wingfoiler and mountain biker.

Ueli Kestenholz hugging teammate after bronze medal win

Switzerland's Ueli Kestenholz, right, is embraced by a teammate after taking the bronze medal in the debut of Olympic giant slalom snowboarding in Shiga Kogen, Japan, on Feb. 8, 1998. Kestenholz came from tenth place in the first run to claim the third position. Canada's Ross Regabliati took gold. (Reuters)

The Olympic medalist’s Instagram account showed numerous photos of the athlete taking part in extreme sports outdoors.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"To enjoy those rare moments when nature’s wonders align you need to be ready to drop everything and go!" he wrote in one post of a video showing him paragliding and landing on frozen lakes near St. Moritz.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Ueli Kestenholz, who won snowboarding's first Olympic medal in 1998, dies in Swiss avalanche