The Guardian UK is reporting the sad news that French Alpine snowboarder Karine Ruby, 31, has died following “a mountain accident,” according to the French Skiing Federation.
It happened in the afternoon, she is dead,” a FFS spokeswoman told Reuters without elaborating. . . Ruby, 31, won the giant slalom gold medal in the 1998 Olympics in Nagano. She also had six snowboard world champion titles to her name.
According to reports on AFP and SI Karine and two other “mountaineers” were roped together when they fell into a very deep crevasse while climbing in France’s Mont Blanc Range. One, a 38 year old, also died the other was “seriously injured.” Karine Ruby will be greatly missed. Our thoughts are with her family and friends.
[Link: Guardian.co.uk, AFP, Sports Illustrated]
Rest In Peace Karine. We never forget you! Stay with God.
to karine and the others involved in the accident: it.s so sad to die in such a way. knowing your accomplishments , you were a great person.
It was with great sadness that I learned of Karine’s death on Mount Blanc last Friday…I had the utmost respect for her athletic talents during my time as FIS World Cup Race Director and I will especially never forget having the fortune of being the first one to congratulate her after she crossed the finish line in 1998 at the Nagano Olympics winning the gold medal in Snowboard GS…the world has lost a great athlete and a wonderful person…Karine you will be missed by all of us…
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