Olympic Ski Medalist Audun Groenvold Dies After Being Struck by Lightning

Audun Groenvold, a freestyle skier who won an Olympic bronze medal while representing Norway at the 2010 Vancouver Games, died Tuesday at age 49 after being struck by lightning.

The Norwegian ski federation shared the news of Groenvold's death on Wednesday in a post translated by the Associated Press.

“It is with great sadness that we have received the news of Audun Groenvold’s untimely passing. The former national Alpine skier and ski cross athlete was recently struck by lightning during a cabin trip," the ski federation said.

According to the federation, Groenvold was "quickly taken to hospital and received treatment for the injuries he sustained in the lightning strike” but died Tuesday night.

Originally an Alpine skier before competing in freestyle and skii cross, Groenvold won a bronze medal in ski cross at the 2005 world championships and claimed victory in the 2007 ski cross cup, according to the AP. He later won bronze in freestyle skiing at the 2010 Olympics.

The Norwegian ski federation reported that Groenvold had contributed to the sport as a coach and a federation board member after his competitive career.

Federation president Tove Moe Dyrhaug described him as "a prominent figure, who has meant so much to both the Alpine and freestyle communities," according to the AP's translation.