ISTANBUL: Turkish Olympic skier Berkin Usta died on Thursday in a fire at a ski resort hotel in the country’s northwest, the Turkey Ski Federation said.

Berkin, 24, who competed at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics in slalom and giant slalom, died alongside his father, Yahya Usta, in an early-morning blaze at a hotel that was closed for guests.

His father Yahya was the president of the Turkish Ski and Snowboard Teachers’ Association. Berkins mother, Fikriye, survived the blaze.

“We have learned about the tragic death of Turkish Olympic skier Berkin Usta, and his father, in a terrible fire,” said the outgoing president of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach.

“Berkin lived his Olympic dream by competing at the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 in Alpine skiing. Our thoughts are with their family and friends.”

Before the 2022 Olympics, Usta spoke of his lifelong dream to compete in the Games.

“I earned the right to represent my country at the Beijing Olympics,” he said. “I want to give my best performance and show that we belong among the best in the world.”

The fire is the second notable blaze this year at a Turkish ski resort, following a fire at Kartalkaya ski resort in January, which claimed 78 lives and injured 51 others.

Published in Dawn, March 29th, 2025