Roland Collombin (1951 – 2026)
Written and published by the SouleMap editorial team. Published July 11, 2026. This tribute was not created by the family. Are you a family member? Claim this memorial.
In loving memory of Roland Collombin. Born February 17, 1951. Passed away July 10, 2026. Final resting place: Versegères, Switzerland.
Their Story
Roland Collombin was a former World Cup alpine ski racer from Switzerland, a two-time World Cup downhill champion and Olympic silver medalist. Born in Versegères in the canton of Valais, Collombin emerged as a downhill skiing prodigy in the early 1970s. Two months after his first World Cup top ten finish in December 1971, he won the silver medal in the downhill at the 1972 Winter Olympics at Sapporo, Japan, finishing behind countryman Bernhard Russi. Collombin dominated downhill racing over the next two World Cup seasons, 1973 and 1974, winning the World Cup season titles, and in January 1974, he won four consecutive downhills in consecutive weeks, which included the Lauberhorn at Wengen, Switzerland, and the Hahnenkamm at Kitzbühel, Austria. His competitive career, though brief, ended after a serious accident in December 1975 that left him with spinal injuries. After retiring from competition, Collombin operated a guest house in Versegères with his wife Sarah and developed a product line of wines. In 2014, he and Sarah opened a raclette restaurant in Martigny named "La Streif" in homage to the legendary Kitzbühel downhill course. He passed away peacefully at his home in Versegères, surrounded by family.
Sources
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