A Team GB snowboarder and rising star of the sport has tragically died on her 18th birthday. Ellie Soutter had been tipped as one of the nation’s future Olympic stars and was responsible for winning Team GB’s only medal at the European Youth Olympic Winter Festival in Erzurum last year. The British Olympic Association confirmed her death today, paying tribute to the 18-year-old snowboard cross athlete.
Chair Hugh Robertson and athlete commission chair Ben Hawes described Soutter as ‘an incredibly popular and well-liked member of the team’. No further details have been given about her death
Her heartbroken father also paid tribute to his daughter on Facebook this evening. Tony Soutter said: ‘This cruel world took my Soul mate and “Bessie” from me yesterday on her 18th birthday. ‘I was so proud of the beautiful young woman she had turned into. Ellie I will miss you more than you could have ever imagined. ‘Rest in peace you little Champion!’
She was due to return to a snowboard cross competition next month and had just been selected for the British team for the Junior World Championships in New Zealand.