“It almost tore my heart apart”
Ski world champion’s parents’ house completely burned down
October 31, 2025 – 10:17 a.mReading time: 1 min.
In the 1990s and 2000s, Bruno Kernen celebrated one success after another. Many years into his career, he experienced a serious setback.
Bruno Kernen is in shock: the parents’ house of the former ski world champion from Switzerland was completely destroyed in a fire. “It almost tore my heart,” the 53-year-old told “Blick”. The cause of the fire is still unclear.
Kernen is particularly concerned about the fate of his 76-year-old father Franz. He had invested a lot in the renovation of the historic farmhouse. “It was his life’s work,” says Kernen. Despite limited resources, his father took over the house, which was built in the 18th century, and renovated it piece by piece through hard work.
At least the fire didn’t get worse: Kernen reports that both his sister and two tenants were able to get to safety in time. All animals from the adjacent stable were also saved.
The 2006 Olympic bronze medalist and 1997 world champion remembers a happy childhood in the house, especially his room under the skylight with a view of Reutiger’s local mountain, “Heiti”. His sporting path as a downhill skier was shaped in this environment.