Olympic star’s son dies after being caught in avalanche
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The son of former Olympic ski star John Smart died after being injured during an avalanche in Japan.
23-year-old Kai Smart was left in a coma due to the avalanche. Kai was taken to Vancouver, Canada, for emergency treatment earlier this month before he died on Monday, John Smart said in a Facebook post.
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Canadian John Smart skis downhill at the World Freestyle Ski Championships in Altenmarkt, Austria, in 1993. (Chris Cole/Allsport)
“It is with great sadness that we must inform you that our kind, brave and beautiful son and brother Kai is no longer with us. We are heartbroken and there are no words to describe the pain we feel at losing him at such a young age,” John Smart wrote on Facebook.
He remembered his son as an adventurer who lived life to the fullest.
“Kai was a warrior, a mountain man, a world explorer, a lover of people from all walks of life, an inspiration to many, an honorable student, an avid skier, surfer, dirt biker, climber, kitesurfer, and so much more… He lived his life to the fullest, every day, with joy, curiosity, and intensity, and experienced more in his short time than most people experience in a lifetime. He was truly a bright light, and his energy – his excitement for living and learning – touched everyone who knew him,” the post continued.
John Smart looks on after missing out on a medal in the men’s moguls at the 1993 World Freestyle Ski Championships. (Chris Cole/Allsport)
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“He was always looking for the road less traveled, drawn to new places, new ideas and new experiences. When he wasn’t pushing his limits, he was constantly learning, exploring and interacting with the world.”
Smart wrote that Kai’s organs were donated to four people.
The former Olympian competed for Team Canada in freestyle skiing. He participated in the 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics.
Olympic rings flag at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California, on March 30, 2025. (Kirby Lee/Getty Images)
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He was inducted into the Canadian Ski Hall of Fame in 2003.
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