Alex ‘Chumpy’ Pullin dead: Who was the Olympic snowboarder? How did he die?

Alex ‘Chumpy’ Pullin has been hitting the slopes since he was three and has had his renowned nickname since he was a kid.

Alex ‘Chumpy’ Pullin grew up with the perfect playground to become a champion snowboarder, with Mt Buller on his doorstep.

When he was eight his family encouraged him to trade in his skis - which he’d been on since three - for a snowboard before he went on to win two World Snowboard Cross titles, two highly coveted Overall Crystal Globes, and seven World Cup gold medals.

HOW AUSSIE WINTER OLYMPICS STAR DIED

Pullin drowned while spearfishing on the Gold Coast today, believed to have suffered a shallow water blackout at Palm Beach at 10.30am this morning.

He was found unresponsive on the ocean floor at an artificial reef by a snorkeller, who called for help from a group of nearby surfers.

The alarm was raised and a lifeguard raced to assist, pulling him from the surf on a jet ski.

Paramedics performed CPR for 45 minutes but the 32-year-old couldn’t be revived.

RELATED: World reacts to Olympic hero’s death

Alex ‘Chumpy’ Pullin started snowboarding when we was eight

OLYMPIC GLORY

While Pullin dominated in world titles, he had his eyes on one thing - Olympic glory.

In 2014 he was Australia’s flag-bearer for the Opening Ceremony in the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

While Sochi didn’t go according to plan, with Pullin eliminated in the quarter-finals, he lined up for this third Olympics in 2018 and came sixth.

An unfortunate crash in the final led to the result, which was his best in his Olympic appearances.

Pullin with girlfriend Ellidy Vlug. Picture: Justin Lloyd

HOW HE CREATED HISTORY

In 2012/2013 Pullin created history, becoming the first Australian winter sports athlete to defend a World Championship title.

In 2013 he was awarded Athlete of the Year by Ski and Snowboard Australia.

In 2015-2016, he was gold at the final World Cup of the season in Baqueira Beret, Spain, joining teammate Belle Brockhoff who won the women’s event – marking the first time Australia has won gold in women’s and men’s at a major competition.

Pullin after winning a men's snowboard cross semi-final during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games. Picture: Loic Venance

Pullin also loved surfing.

WHO IS ELLIDY VLUG?

Pullin’s girlfriend is a swimwear model from Narrabeen on Sydney’s northern beaches.

The pair had known each other for 10 years through friends but hit it off at a party Aussie surfer Laura Enever hosted.

“We just started talking after meeting there and I called her out for a dance,” Pullin told Buro.

“Heaps old school! Dragged her out on the dance floor.”

Ms Vlug said the couple were good at doing long distance when Pullin was away and she just made sure she kept herself busy.

In February she posted a photo as a bridesmaid at a wedding and said she was wondering when her turn was.

He won the bronze medal during the FIS Freestyle Ski and Snowboard World Championships Snowboardcross in Spain. Picture: Laurent Salino/Getty Images

HOW HE GOT THE NICKNAME ‘CHUMPY’

“I grew up in a small town. Everyone had a handle growing up,” Pullin said of his upbringing in Mansfield, Victoria, during a Red Bull interview.

“It came from my parents mostly, but it stuck with friends and then older crew I was snowboarding with. It was fitting as a snowboard grommet and I probably should have grown out of it at some stage. The meaning of where it all started was lost and has now just become my name.”

Originally published as Alex ‘Chumpy’ Pullin dead: Who was the Olympic snowboarder? How did he die?