Snowboarder Jake Canter Wins Olympic Medal 10 Years After Nearly Dying

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Jake Canter overcame more than just snowy slopes at the 2026 Olympics.

The 22-year-old snowboarder won a bronze medal in the men’s slopestyle event at the Milano Cortina Games on February 18th, a remarkable achievement considering he almost died in a trampoline accident ten years ago.

According to his Team USA profile, Jake suffered a severe brain injury at a trampoline park in Frisco, California, when he was 13 years old in 2016. Doctors said he had only a 20% chance of surviving, and he was kept in a medically induced coma for four days.

Despite facing significant challenges, Jake made a comeback in August 2017. Even though he permanently lost hearing in his right ear, he was able to adapt and keep his balance.

Jake finished strong at Livigno Snow Park in Sondrio, scoring a 79.36 on his last run. He was clearly excited about how well he did, shouting “Come on!” as he came down the hill.

Jake was joined on the podium by Yiming Su of China, who won gold with a score of 82.41, and Taiga Hasegawa of Japan, who took silver with 82.13.

After a close call, Jake truly appreciates every chance he gets to snowboard. He’s also thankful for the doctors who helped him recover.

I was hit in the back of the head by a child who lost his balance on a trampoline, and it fractured my skull in four places,” he explained to Yuth Magazine in January. “It took about six months to recover and start feeling normal again, which involved a lot of rehabilitation. I worked with a functional neurologist named Shane Steadman, who helped me fully recover, and he even incorporated snowboarding into my therapy.”

After a few months, Jake revealed he’d gotten meningitis, resulting in complete hearing loss in his right ear. He explained that he then had to relearn basic skills, saying, “I had to relearn how to walk, talk, and do everything all over again.”

After losing his balance on his right side, the athlete had to retrain himself to rely on his left side, using special eye and brain exercises and physical therapy. Thankfully, Jake has received a lot of support from his caring community throughout this difficult time.

“I’m so lucky,” he emphasized. “I have the best parents in the world. They’re so supportive.”

Follow Team USA’s journey for gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics! We’ll bring you highlights of the best athletic performances, winning moments, and appearances by celebrities and other notable figures.

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2026-02-18 19:52