Life can change in the blink of an eye, especially in a sport like skiing. One moment, you’re on top of the world, carving through the snow, living your dream. Next, you’re gone. It’s the kind of thing you never think will happen to someone so full of life. But on March 27, 2025, that reality hit hard for one Olympic skier. Imagine posting a peaceful moment with your team, never knowing it would be your last Instagram post. So, what is the back story?

In Uludag, northwest Turkey, a fire erupted at the Kervansaray Hotel, claiming the lives of a 25-year-old Olympic skier, Berkin Usta, and his 57-year-old father. The skier, who had competed in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, was also the founder of a team called Skicraft. His father, Yahya, was well known in the Turkish Ski and Snowboard Teachers Association. The two were staying at the hotel when the fire broke out, leaving the skiing world in shock and mourning. Can you even imagine how something like this could happen when you least expect it?

The fire started early in the morning, ignited by sparks from a barbecue grill that set a piece of plastic ablaze. The hotel, which had been shut down months earlier due to safety violations, was still the site of this devastating tragedy. Despite the fire crews’ best efforts, the fire spread fast, leaving the two men no chance of escape. How does a place that was supposed to bring peace end up becoming the site of such heartache?

Just days before the fire, the skier shared a moment on Instagram, sitting by a snowmobile, enjoying the time with his team. Who could’ve guessed that would be his final post? His last moments were filled with warmth, and now those words and images are all that remain. And now, skiing fans flooded his page with tributes, struggling to accept the loss.

Fans mourn the loss of a skiing star

One skiing fan wrote, “Ahhh… the story remains. May he rest in the lights 🙏🏻,” another shared, “Life is so strange… Rest in peace ✨.” One fan commented, “The story keeps on making me wanna cry lol,” and yet another said, “You make your last post not knowing that you’re going to die 😭… knowing that flames will kill you in the story, how painful it is.”

These words really hit hard. The irony is impossible to ignore, especially since this tragic event comes just two months after another devastating fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel in Bolu, where 79 people lost their lives during a school holiday.

And now, this fire at the Kervansaray Hotel is another heartbreak. Twelve staff members were there when the fire broke out, and several were hospitalized after suffering from smoke inhalation. The investigation is still ongoing, but it’s unclear why the victims were at the hotel or whether they were staff.

Another Skiing fan wrote, “Oh, the story is still standing, my little one 😢 I hope the place where he is lying doesn’t hurt him❤️.” Another shared, “You were one of the best people I’ve ever seen in my life, your heart, your posture, your behavior, your character, your gentleness, what you did for the national team, we love you so much brother, may you rest in peace 🙏🏻.” These words show how much love and respect people had for him.

He wasn’t just a talented athlete; he was someone who touched so many lives with his kindness and dedication. Starting to ski at just two years old, he quickly fell in love with the sport. He balanced his athletic career with studying International Trade and Business at Istanbul Bilgi University. He competed for the 16 Sports Club in his hometown.

But his journey took off when he participated in the 2017 European Youth Olympic Winter Festival in Erzurum, Turkey. Though he ranked 21st in the grand slalom, it was clear that he was just getting started. He was on the verge of making a bigger mark in skiing, but tragically, his life was cut short before he could reach his full potential.