Audun Gronvold - a former famous Norwegian skier passed away at the age of 49 after being hit by lightning while vacationing with his family. The information was confirmed by the Norwegian Skeeper Federation on July 16.
"Gronvold was quickly transferred to the hospital after being hit by lightning but could not survive and breathed his last on the night of July 15," the Federation representative announced. Tove Moe President Dyrhaug called it a huge loss for the country's skiing community, stressing that Gronvold is a symbol of free mountain skiing.
Audun Gronvold is a familiar face in winter sports arenas. He won a bronze medal at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and a bronze at the 2005 World Championship in cross-coast skiing.
Previously, in 1999, Gronvold also took the podium to receive a bronze medal at the World Cup in mountaining and climbing. After retiring, he continued to be involved in sports as a national team coach and television commentator.
His sudden passing left great pain for his family and fans. His wife - Ms. Kristin Tandberg Haugsja shared on social media: "I have lost my great love and best friend for the past 20 years." Gronvold passed away, leaving behind his wife and three children.
According to statistics from Science Alert (2022), about 24,000 people are killed and more than 240,000 people are injured by lightning each year worldwide. Gronvold's accident once again reminds us of the unpredictable dangers of this extreme weather phenomenon.
World sports have witnessed many similar epidemics. In 2019, endurance runner Thomas Stanley (USA) was hit by lightning when he was only a few hundred meters away from the finish line in a 50km race. In 2023, two consecutive football players in Indonesia and Brazil died while playing due to lightning.
