From the lowest of lows to the highest of highs, an Olympic dream came true for Jake Canter. The American snowboarder reached the podium on Wednesday. That’s something he could hardly have imagined possible a decade ago.
The 22-year-old native of Colorado was seemingly on his deathbed in 2016 after suffering a massive brain injury while at a trampoline park. He was placed in a medically induced coma for four days. The prognosis for him was grim, with doctors giving him a 20% chance of surviving. This week Jake pulled off another incredible feat.
Jake Canter picked up a medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics
Beating the odds is something Jake is used to doing. On Wednesday, the snowboarder came away with a bronze medal, scoring a 79.36 on his final run on the snowy track at Livigno Snow Park in Italy. His Team USA biography revealed his incredible life story.
Since his near-death experience, Jake has been incredibly grateful. He says that it took him six months to feel back to normal after the accident that nearly took his life. A lot of rehab and work with a functional neurologist helped him rebuild and pursue his Olympic dream.
Unfortunately, that accident wasn’t the end of Jake’s troubles. Months after that, he contracted meningitis. Doctors had to fully close his right ear because of this. He says that he had to relearn how walk, talk, and do everything. The loving community around him, and in particular his parents’ support, inspired him to keep going.
His incredible journey is a positive note in what has been a sad time for some Americans on the slopes. Prominent skier Lindsey Vonn suffered a horrific crash in her first run at the Olympics. That put an end to her Olympic comeback.
Jake was joined on the podium by China’s Yiming Su and Japan’s Taiga Hasegawa, who earned gold and silver, respectively.
TELL US – IS JAKE CANTER’S STORY THE MOST INSPIRATIONAL OF THESE OLYMPICS?
