TL;DR
The 82nd International Inferno Races in Mürren was cancelled mid-race on 24 January 2026 following a fatal medical incident. A 69-year-old competitor collapsed near the finish line and died despite immediate resuscitation efforts. After more than eight decades without a fatality, the tragic event marks the first death in the race's history.
First Death in 82 Years Halts Historic Mürren Downhill Race
The 82nd International Inferno Races in Mürren ended in tragedy on 24 January 2026 when a 69-year-old competitor suffered a fatal medical incident near the finish line. After more than eight decades of racing without a single death, the event was cancelled mid-competition following the incident.
Race Cancelled After Medical Emergency
The downhill race was stopped after just over half the field had started. The competitor collapsed shortly before crossing the finish line and died at the scene despite immediate resuscitation efforts from medical personnel.
Following the incident, the organising committee made the decision to cancel the remainder of the race whilst counting the results of riders who had already completed the course.
I started at 8:56am this morning, and having only two years of skiing experience under my belt, it was genuinely one of the hardest physical challenges I've faced. The sheer distance and technical difficulty of the 12 kilometre course from Schilthorn to Winteregg pushes even experienced skiers to their limits.
The tragedy of someone dying so close to the finish line—particularly after 82 years without a fatality—casts a shadow over what should have been a celebration of amateur ski racing.
