(ATR) Olympic cross country skiing champion Vibeke Skofterud has died in a jet ski accident in her native Norway.
The International Ski Federation (FIS) extended its "sincere condolences" in a statement, saying she was reported missing on Saturday and her body was found by a rescue team on Sunday morning near the island of St. Helena in southern Norway.
Skofterud, who was 38, won a gold medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver as part of the Norwegian 4x5km relay team. She also won two gold medals, one silver and a bronze at the World Ski Championships and finished 15 times on the World Cup podium before her retirement in 2015.
"It's with great sadness I've got the news that Vibeke Skofterud has died in an accident. She's going to be deeply missed," Norway NOC president Tom Tvedt said in a statement, calling her "admirable as an athlete and with her openness".
"She was a very good skier with both Olympic and World Cup golds," Norwegian Ski Federation president Erik Røste said in a statement. "In addition, Vibeke was a very good contributor to the environment and an important ambassador for skiing. Our deepest compassion goes to her family and the closest."
Norway’s prime minister and culture minister were among those who took to social media to express their sadness at the untimely death of Skofterud.
Written by Gerard Farek
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