A former member of the US team TJ Lanning died, the team confirmed on Tuesday, July 7. He was 41 years old.
No cause of death has been released as of publication.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of TJ Lanning, a former US team alpine skier and an influential coach for our sport who passed his competitive years. 🤍,” the US team wrote on Instagram. “Our thoughts are with his family, friends and children at this difficult time.”
A native of Helena, Montana, Lanning specializes in downhill, super-G and combined races, according to Ski Racing Media, which also called him, “one of America's fastest skiers of his generation.”
“Lanning's career has been defined not only by talent but also by tenacity,” the outlet wrote. “He ran with determination to push the limit, and that approach made him happy to watch. It also came at a heavy physical cost. His career included repeated injuries, including accidents that disrupted several seasons and kept him from seeing much of the potential that was seen in him.”
Another highlight of Lanning's career came in 2008 when she became the US downhill champion and qualified for the World Cup Finals in downhill. He finished 25th in the hard training and placed 33rd in the super-G.
Lanning retired a year later after a horrific mid-race accident in which a crash resulted in him dislocating his left knee and fracturing the C5 vertebra in his neck. Unable to return to competition, he switched to coaching, helping the US Ski Team.
“Lanning's life in ski racing was marked by promise, pain, persistence and impact,” wrote Ski Racing Media. “He brought moments of true joy to the sport, and later, he gave back through training. His death at such a young age is a great loss to the American ski racing community.”
Friends and fans shared their condolences to Lanning in the comments of the US team's post.
“I feel very fortunate to have known TJ through ski racing,” Ski Racing Media content director Katie Twible he wrote. “His smile lit up every ski hill he was on, and he brought great strength to the people around him. Today our skiing community lost a special person. My heart goes out to his family, his children, and everyone who loved him. 💔.”
“What a great loss for the world of skiing,” said the former Swiss ski racer Carlo Janka added. “He was an amazing athlete and an amazing person. My thoughts are with his family, friends and everyone who knew him. 🙏😢.”
