Jan 4, 1978 – May 29, 2009
CHAMONIX, France (AP) - Karine Ruby, a former Olympic snowboarding champion who had been training to become a mountain guide, died Friday in a climbing accident on Mont Blanc. She was 31.
Ruby was roped to other climbers when she and some members of the group fell into a deep crack in the glacier on the way down the mountain, Chamonix police official Laurent Sayssac said.
A 38-year-old man from the Paris region died in the fall, and a 27-year-old man was evacuated by helicopter with serious injuries and hospitalized, Sayssac added.
French Prime Minister Francois Fillon called Ruby an "exceptional sportswoman."
"Karine incarnated the emergence of snowboarding in France," Fillon said in a statement. "The people of France will hold on to the memory of her talent and her joie de vivre."
Ruby won a gold medal in the giant slalom at the 1998 Nagano Olympics and a silver in the parallel giant slalom at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games. She was a six-time world champion with 65 snowboard World Cup victories.
She retired after the 2006 Turin Olympics, where she was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the snowboardcross event. Ruby had since been working toward becoming a mountain guide and was expected to finish her training in the coming weeks.
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press
My heart goes out to the Ruby family for having to go through such a tragic loss. Just know that Karine is up with the angels looking down on us.
JEREMY GOBERT
June 07, 2009 | GAINESVILLE, GA
Sadness is what many believe should be expressed after the passing of someone treasured or loved. Karine Ruby lived her life to the fullest. She got to participate in events many of us only see on tv. She is an amazing person. Hopefully in the next life she will do something different! RIP <33
“It is better to live one day as a lion, than a thousand days as a lamb.”
Mohamed Elmobdy
June 07, 2009 | NJ
Rest in peace Karine and god be with you and your family which I know they are hurting.My heart aches for you. It is hard to loose someone young and full of life like you.
Mandana M
June 07, 2009 | San Diego, CA
I am 31 and am humbled by her amazing life. I am a stranger but i grieve with her family tonight. I feel the pain my own family would feel without me so young. Know that others are forever inspired by her. Her legacy will always live on.
June 07, 2009
my condolence to the family of ms. karine ruby and her family.
may god bless you adbundantly, keeping you and your family in prayers! Amen!
Kwa Shirley, West Malaysia.
Shirley Kwa
June 07, 2009
Karine obviously enjoyed the rush that the spirit gets by being challenged and conquering the fear most of us have. She was a supreme athelete and I know she will be remembered as such. God Bless her and her family and all of those touched by her beautiful soul. Karine proved that girls rock!
Stacey
June 06, 2009 | Nixa, MO
May god bless you and your family on your loss and karine you will be missed.
rhonda from georgia
rhonda bell
June 06, 2009 | LAKELAND, GA
So sorry for the lost of Karine, such young person to be taken away from her loved ones. Accept our deepest sympathy, and may you rest in peace. You will be included in our prayers.
J R
June 06, 2009 | Fairfield, CA
"god bless the family and the soul , sorry for the loss" .marios+Nikol mappourides
marios mappourides
June 06, 2009 | Singapore
