Tragedy has struck the global skiing community after the passing of former Norwegian Olympic skier Audun Grønvold.
The 49-year-old passed away on July 16, 2025, after being struck by lightning during a family cabin trip.
His passing, confirmed by the Norwegian Ski Federation, brings an abrupt end to the life of a pioneering athlete known for both alpine skiing and ski cross, according to media reports.
Former Norwegian Olympic skier Audun Grønvold loses life after being struck by lightning
According to the federation, Grønvold was struck by lightning on July 12 while vacationing at a remote cabin in rural Norway.
He was quickly transported to a nearby hospital and given emergency care.
Though he initially survived the impact, his condition deteriorated, and he succumbed to the severity of his injuries a few days later.
Norway’s state broadcaster NHK reports that Grønvold is survived by his wife and three children.
Grønvold started his career as an alpine skier but transitioned to ski cross as the sport was emerging
Born on February 28, 1976, in Hamar, Norway, Grønvold began his competitive skiing career in the alpine discipline.
As a member of Norway’s national alpine team from the mid‑1990s through 2004, he blossomed on the World Cup circuit.
In the early 2000s, Grønvold pivoted from alpine skiing to the emerging discipline of ski cross—a high-paced, obstacle-strewn genre of freestyle skiing. In 2007, he cemented his place in the sport by capturing the overall Ski Cross World Cup title.
When the sport debuted at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, he earned a bronze medal, becoming one of the first Olympic medalists in the sport.
At the peak of his athletic career, Grønvold retired from competitive skiing. At the time, he told NHK that his body had given him clues that it was time to stop.
“Grønvold struggled with both his knee, elbow and neck injuries towards the end of his career,” NHK reported.
“I retire with a heavy heart, but it is a sensible choice,” Grønvold told NRK at the time.
Grønvold remained active after retiring as a coach, mentor and hockey player
Despite retiring from professional skiing, Grønvold continued his athletics career as a coach and mentor.
NHK reports that Grønvold served as a national ski cross coach for Norway’s team.
His expertise also made him a respected television commentator, where he shared valuable insights with viewers.
And he played hockey.
According to NHK, Kjetil André Aamodt, another former Norwegian Olympic skier, said Grønvold “was the driving force behind the hockey team we played for, the Lambertseter Flyers.”
Aamodt said Grøvold “was very fond of sports and very active. And he was one of the fastest and most agile athletes measured in tests at the Olympiatoppen.”
When asked about his favorite memory of Grønvold, Aamodt described a recent funny moment when his friend showed up to hockey practice wearing goalie gear.
“He wasn’t really supposed to be there, and he wasn’t really a goalie, but suddenly he showed up in full goalie gear just to give us a laugh,” Aamodt recalled.
“Norwegian skiing has lost a significant figure”: Messages of support pour in
Comments have been forthcoming from across the skiing community.
Tove Moe Dyrhaug, president of the Norwegian Ski Federation, said: “Norwegian skiing has lost a prominent figure, who has meant so much to both the Alpine and freestyle communities … There will be a big void after Audun.”
He praised Grønvold’s multifaceted contributions—as a competitor, coach, and leader—and underscored the profound loss felt within Norwegian skiing.
Another of Grønvold’s teammates on the national ski cross team, Hedda Berntsen, said she and others remember him as “a fantastic athlete and friend.”
Former Norwegian cross-country skier Niklas Dyrhaug said: “Norwegian skiing has lost a significant figure, who has meant so much to both the alpine and freestyle communities.”
“The loss of you is enormous”: Grønvold’s wife posts a devastating message
Immediately after the tragedy struck, Grønvold’s wife, Kristin Tandberg Haugsjå, posted a heartbreaking message on social media.
“Audun, my great love and my best friend for twenty years… today you left us. What started with a lovely summer holiday ended last Saturday with you being struck by lightning while we were out at our cabin. Although you quickly received treatment and were taken to hospital, you d*ed from your injuries last night. Sanna, Selma, William and I will carry you with us in our hearts. The loss of you is enormous.”
Grønvold’s passing leaves behind a grieving family—his wife and three children—as well as a void within Norway’s tight-knit ski community.
What lightning does to your body—and just how often it happens
The human body, which is made mostly of water and electrolytes, conducts electricity well. And even though lightning strikes are rare, they can cause dramatic and lasting harm.
Per the Mayo Clinic, lightning can cause immediate physical trauma, including “cardiac and respiratory arrest, temporary blindness, ruptured eardrums, and distinctive fern‑like skin burns.”
Even survivors often face substantial consequences. According to the National Weather Service, about 90% of strikes are non-fatal, yet many victims continue to live with chronic pain, nerve damage, and neurological issues.
The Mayo Clinic’s nerve‑injury forum notes that recovery can be “a miracle,” but that “rehabilitation—especially for muscle and nerve damage—is often arduous.”
Netizens react with surprise over the loss of one of Norway’s most prominent skiers
