It's a sad, sad day for the winter sports community.
Former Olympic snowboarder Julie Pomagalski was sadly killed by an avalanche in the Swiss Alps.
She was just 40 years of age.
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It's understood Pomagalski's guide Bruno Cutelli also passed away in the tragic incident.
The French Olympic Committee confirmed the sad news via social media.
"All thoughts of the France Olympique team and the CNOSF go to Julie Pomagalski's family," the sport's governing body said in a statement.
"To those close to her, to the French Ski Federation. The tragic death of Julie, snowboard world champion and Olympian, leaves the France Olympic team in mourning for one of their own."
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Pomagalski represented France at the 2002 Olympic Games in Salt Lake City and the 2006 Games in Turin.
And while she never received a medal at an Olympics, Pomagalski was widely regarded as one of the best in the business at the parallel giant slalom.
She did win gold in the Snowboard Cross at the 1999 World Championships in Berchtesgaden though.
Initial reports from the French ski federation didn't specify exactly where the incident occurred on the Swiss Alps.
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But it was later discovered that the avalanche happened in the Swiss canton of Uri.
"Suddenly there was an avalanche for reasons that are still unknown," local Uri police said in a statement.
"As a result, three people slid down the slope with the avalanche. One person was slightly injured and flown by Rega to Kantonsspital Uri hospital. The other two people were completely covered. Any help came too late for them."
Tributes came flooding in for Pomagalski, with family members, friends and snowboarding fans offering their deepest condolences.
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Rest In Peace, Julie.
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: olympics, olympic games, France, Australia
