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Eleven months ago, Canadian snowboarder Mark McMorris nearly died.
After the 24-year-old drilled a tree on a practice run, he was put in a medically-induced coma–breaking 17 bones, suffering a collapsed lung and a ruptured spleen. McMorris had surgeries on his jaw, arm, lung and spleen.
McMorris was expected to be in the hospital for a month, but instead left after 12 days.
Fast forward to this past Sunday, McMorris found himself standing on an Olympic podium after securing a bronze medal in men’s slopestyle. After the unlikely victory, the Canadian posted a tweet detailing just how far he’s come in a year.
Thank You Life🙏🏽❤️ pic.twitter.com/TdHcIdWzqJ
— Mark McMorris (@markmcmorris) February 12, 2018
McMorris’ tweet has gone viral internationally, inspiring people around the world who are facing adversity.
Via ESPN:
“It’s such a cool thing that people are backing the story,” he said. “You can’t force that on people. At the time, I wish it hadn’t happened, but now it’s so cool that so many people have reached out and said, ‘You’ve helped me through this part of my life’ or motivated me or whatever it may be.”
“I’m glad I can play that role and feel lucky to be in the position I’m in, being able to inspire others. Being able to inspire others is better than any medal.”
It’s amazing how a non-contact ACL injury takes up to nine months to come back from, and this dude was breathing via tubes less than a year ago, and he’s secured a top spot in the sport on the world’s biggest stage.
[h/t ESPN]