Swiss downhiller Corinne Rey-Bellet shot dead; husband sought

Swiss downhiller Corinne Rey-Bellet shot dead; husband sought{mosimage}LES CROSETS, Switzerland — Former Swiss skiing star Corinne Rey-Bellet was shot to death along with her brother Alain in their parents’ home, police said Monday.

Their mother was hospitalized with serious injuries from the attack late Sunday in the Swiss mountain resort of Les Crosets, according to a statement from Valais cantonal (state) police.

According to the Canadian Press, police are searching for Rey-Bellet’s husband Gerold Stadler in connection with the two slayings, said Philippe Medico, examining magistrate in the Swiss region of Valais.

Stadler, a 34-year-old private banker, appears to have fled the scene, but his car was found in a nearby village, Medico told reporters in St. Maurice.

The 33-year-old Rey-Bellet shared a 2003 World Championships silver medal in the downhill at St. Moritz, Switzerland. She retired shortly afterward because of a series of injuries to her right knee during top level competition.

Rey-Bellet gave birth to a son in November 2003 and was training to become a physiotherapist. Medico said Rey-Bellet and Stadler had separated late last month. The couple’s 2-year-old son — who was also in the house but was unhurt on a higher floor — is safe, police spokesman Renato Kalbermatten said.

Rey-Bellet, 33, lived with her husband and son in Abtwil, in northeast Switzerland.

Rey-Bellet had her first podium finish in 1992, when she placed third in the World Cup Finals in Crans Montana. In 1999, she won the downhill and super G at a World Cup in St. Anton, Austria.

By Monday afternoon, fans had left hundreds of messages of condolence on Rey-Bellet’s Web site.

“We’re shaken by the tragedy. We send our condolences to the family members and express our deep sorrow,” the Web site’s administrators said.

– The Associated Press/Canadian Press