Archive · 13 Jan 2026
Swiss Olympic Medallist Ueli Kestenholz Dies in Avalanche
Ueli Kestenholz was a famous Swiss snowboarder who won a bronze medal in the 1998 Olympics.
He was 50 years old and had a long career in extreme sports.
On January 13, 2026, he was snowboarding in the Swiss Alps with a friend when an avalanche happened.
He got buried under the snow but was helped by his friend and taken to the hospital.
Sadly, he did not survive.
His last post on Instagram showed him enjoying nature and being ready to drop everything to experience its wonders.
Ueli Kestenholz, a Swiss snowboarder and Olympic bronze medallist, died at 50 after being caught in an avalanche in the Lötschental valley.
He won a bronze medal in the snowboard giant slalom at the 1998 Nagano Olympics.
Kestenholz was snowboarding with a friend when the avalanche occurred at an altitude of 2,400 meters.
He was buried under the snow but was assisted by his friend and airlifted to a hospital.
His last Instagram post showed him paragliding and enjoying nature's wonders.
- Who
- Ueli Kestenholz, a Swiss snowboarder and Olympic medallist
- What
- Died in an avalanche
- When
- January 13, 2026
- Where
- Lötschental, Valais Canton, Switzerland
- Why
- The avalanche occurred for reasons still unknown
- Name
- Ueli Kestenholz
- Age
- 50
- Nationality
- Swiss
- Occupation
- Professional Snowboarder
- Notable Achievement
- Olympic Bronze Medalist (1998 Nagano)
- Location of Incident
- Lötschental, Valais Canton, Switzerland
- Date of Incident
- January 13, 2026
- Altitude of Incident
- 2,400 meters (7,900 feet)
