Max Parrot’s comeback from cancer is complete.
The Canadian gained gold in snowboard slopestyle on Monday at the Beijing Olympics, upgrading from the silver he gained at the 2018 Pyeongchang Video Games. Fellow Canadian Mark McMorris earned bronze within the experience for the third consecutive time, even as China’s Su Yiming took silver.
In between podiums, Parrot, of Bromont, Que., used to be identified with Hodgkins lymphoma, forcing him to overlook all the 2018-19 season.
Simply over 3 years later, he is set to face atop the Olympic podium with Canada’s first gold medal of those Beijing Games.
WATCH | Parrot collects Canada’s 1st gold medal in Beijing:
Max Parrot wins Canada’s 1st gold medal of Beijing 2022
Max Parrot of Bromont, Que., claimed Olympic gold in the men’s snowboard slopestyle, after winning silver within the similar event in 2018. 2:08
“It really simply presentations how the rest is feasible. 3 years in the past, i used to be laying down in a sanatorium bed with out a power, no muscles, no aerobic. And today, I’m an Olympic gold medallist and i did the most important run of my existence, ” Parrot informed CBC Sports Activities after the development.
At a information conference ahead of the Olympics, Parrot said his outlook on sports, and on existence, modified submit-most cancers.
“on every occasion I step on my snowboard, I smile twice as a lot as earlier than and it just transplanted into my coaching,” he stated.
it’s all smiles now after the 29-12 months-vintage collected his first career Olympic identify, adding to an illustrious occupation that also includes 8 X Games gold medals.
Parrot won at the energy of his 2d run, on which he scored 90.96 points. The Canadian stomped a frontside 1620 at the ultimate jump, and immediately began clapping on his means down, figuring out his run need to be ok to land at the podium.
It vaulted him to the top. However because the fourth rider, Parrot had to watch for 8 more athletes to return with their 2nd runs, and all 12 in the final had one closing shot to publish a medal-worthy rating in their third run.
McMorris, of Regina, used that opportunity to score 88.53 issues and transfer to third, just .17 issues back of China’s Su.
WATCH | McMorris stomps third run for bronze:
Mark McMorris claims snowboard slopestyle bronze for the third Olympics in a row
Regina’s Mark McMorris gained bronze in the men’s snowboard slopestyle event at Beijing 2022, including to his bronze medal collection from the similar event in Pyeongchang in 2018 and in Sochi in 2014. 3:22
“That was once a nerve-wracking second right there,” McMorris said. “I went bottom 1620 on the final one and the landing was quite shaded so i was similar to, ‘Oh, I Am Hoping I’m the place i feel I Am’ and landed fairly clean and used to be simply thrilled. I felt so relieved to land that run.
“i thought I would’ve landed 2nd or first, but hello, I Am at the podium and that i wasn’t after my first runs, so it feels superb.”
And so Parrot’s gold medal was once confirmed some half-hour after he landed that ultimate 1620.
“It’s the biggest run I’ve done in my complete entire occupation,” Parrot said. “I Have by no means done three triples in a row in a run… everything was once so blank so I Am just extraordinarily pleased with myself with that.”
China’s Su, left, and Canada’s Parrot, centre, and McMorris, proper, stand on the Olympic snowboard slopestyle podium. (Mike Blake/Reuters)
Sébastien Toutant, the third Canadian to qualify for the final, positioned ninth with a best rating of FIFTY FOUR points.
After Parrot realized of his blood cancer, he underwent 12 rounds of chemotherapy over six months wherein he said he shaved his head, advanced an aversion to lattes and was once usually taken out of coaching.
a couple of weeks in the past, Parrot said his journey ended in a more laidback means ahead of his third Olympics.
“My objective is to go for the gold, that is for sure,” he said on the time. “But I’m in reality happy besides that if i don’t get the gold, I wouldn’t have any regrets as a result of I did the whole lot in my power over the previous couple months, and that used to be something essential for me as well.”
Parrot, left, embraces McMorris, right, after both earned places at the podium. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)
The newly minted Olympic champion would definitely have no regrets now. And he’s going to get the chance to double whilst, together with McMorris, Toutant and Darcy Sharpe — the fourth Canadian within the adventure, who didn’t reach the overall — he returns to the slopes in China for the massive air pageant on Feb. 14.
Canadian snowboarding trio glance to cement Olympic legacies in Beijing
When he received his first in 2014, it was on the recreation’s Olympic debut. His 2d in 2018 got here simply months after a near-deadly crash. the celebs appeared aligned for him to climb upper on the podium in Beijing, however he ultimately fell less than -tenths of a point short of silver, and less than issues off the top spot.
“Having longevity and consistency in a young man’s sport is difficult and i’m honoured to be taking part in that role and pushing that envelope,” McMorris stated. “it has been an incredible run and i get pleasure from Canada’s beef up and love and it is a actual honour.”