Champion figure skater, Julia Marie Gaiser, has died at the age of 23.
The death of the young athlete was announced earlier this week, as tributes have poured in.
Local authorities have since launched an investigation into the incident.
Julia Marie Gaiser, 23, leaves behind her parents, Markus and Elke.
Friends have remembered the star for her ‘kindness’ and ‘determination’ in tributes.
“She repeated exercises alone, trained even beyond the scheduled time, always trying to improve,” friends said, per Italian outlet Il Messaggero.
“She was a special athlete, a girl capable of encouraging herself and others while always keeping her feet on the ground. She never shied away from hard work.”
Another said: “She was a kind girl, always smiling, who loved her sport and was now working hard to become a coach.
“She wanted to pass on her passion to others. For her, figure skating was a true love, not just a sport.”
Andreas Jungmann, mayor of Brixen where Gaiser was born, issued a statement following the news of her death.
He said: “We are all deeply shocked.”
Jungmann noted that she ‘was not only an outstanding athlete, but also a role model for many.’
“Therefore, on behalf of the entire population of Brixen, we can only express our deepest condolences.”
The Salzburg Ice Team wrote in a statement: “With her talent, discipline, and charisma, she left an unforgettable mark on the ice.
“Away from sports, Julia was a radiant person: her laughter and shining eyes filled every room.”
They added: “She was not only an outstanding athlete but also a role model for the youngest children, whom she introduced to figure skating with enthusiasm and patience in children’s courses.”
The 23-year-old was struck by a turning lorry while riding on a bike route in Salzburg.
The Red Cross reported that emergency responders were unable to resuscitate the young girl, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
Early details suggest that she may have been in the driver’s blind spot at the time of the fatal accident.
Gaiser was a three-time Salzburg state champion, and successfully competed for Austria with the Rot-Weiß Salzburg figure skating club.
Candles have now been placed at the scene of the accident in a sweet tribute.
