A tragedy unfolded in Norway when 19-year-old skier Hana Mazi Yamnik died after a vehicle incident in a tunnel. The seriously injured athlete was airlifted by helicopter to the university hospital in Stavanger, but medical teams could not save her life.
The Slovenian national team had invited Yamnik to join the Blink sports festival in Norway, and she remained in the country to train under the guidance of the national team coach, the renowned Norwegian skier Ola Vigen Hettestad.
On the morning of August 11, Yamnik was working on a public road near the town of Sannes. After entering a tunnel, she collided with a truck, resulting in a fatal outcome.
The truck driver was immediately detained by police, and reports indicate he did not plead guilty to negligent driving. Blood tests were conducted to check for alcohol or drugs, but results have not been disclosed publicly at this time.
Speaking to the press, the driver’s attorney stated that his client is deeply affected by the incident and remains focused on the girl, the survivors, and those who are close to the case.
The defense argued the driver was also linked to another prior incident involving a different vehicle that appeared to obscure Yamnik and lead to a deadly outcome. Police have located and questioned the driver of that second vehicle as well.
In a statement, the Slovenian Ski Federation expressed condolences, noting that Hana will be remembered. Psychologists are already supporting other members of the Slovenian team as they process the loss.
One associate commented on his own shock, recalling the years of training and the sudden, heartbreaking turn of events. He expressed sympathy for Yamnik’s teammates, coaches, service staff, family, and everyone touched by the tragedy.
Teresa Johaug, a prominent Norwegian Olympic champion, offered condolences, describing the news as a heavy blow. She spoke about the emotional impact on those who train on busy roads and who share a passion for the sport.
Emil Iversen, a fellow skier and four-time world champion from Norway, called the incident a terrible and unwelcome wake-up call for athletes who train in traffic-heavy environments.
Norway’s NRK commentator Andreas Stabrun characterized the death as devastating, while Dagbladet quoted another observer who emphasized the grief facing Hana’s closest relatives and the wider ski community. The loss has sent a powerful reminder about the risks athletes endure when training on roads that interact with public traffic.
Hana Mazi Yamnik showed promise as an athlete who had just begun her senior-level season and was seen as a potential focal point for Norway’s home world championship program in Planica 2023. She previously ranked 12th in the 5 km race at the 2021 Junior World Championships in Finland and competed in the YJWCH 2022 hosted in Norway. She also earned a victory in the 10-kilometer race at the World Junior Ski Championships, underscoring her potential and growing status within the sport.
Norwegian media coverage has been extensive, spanning tributes from public figures to the athlete’s family and the Slovenian team. The dominant theme remains the danger associated with training on public roads and the real risks athletes face when road conditions intersect with sport. The broader sports community has reflected on similar tragedies in recent years, underscoring the need for enhanced safety practices and greater awareness among young athletes who pursue high-level competition in public spaces.
Past incidents emphasize a troubling pattern. In fall 2021, during a morning cross-country event in wet weather in Khabarovsk, a roadside truck fatally struck Ruslan Zakharov, a medalist from the Junior World Speed Skating Championships. The accident reportedly occurred in a scenario where the athlete had moved in a position that did not allow sufficient visibility for oncoming traffic. Five years earlier, in Sochi, a member of the Russian national mountain bike team, Anton Gogolev, died in a tragic crash while competing. These cases highlight the ongoing hazards athletes confront when roads used for training and competition intersect with vehicle routes, prompting ongoing discussions about safety protocols and venue design across international skiing and winter sports communities.