LOCAL MEDAL WINNER
Mark McMorris lands bronze
While winning bronze medals, Mark McMorris has established the gold standard for perseverance.
The Regina snowboarder has finished third in men’s slopestyle in each of his two appearances at the Winter Olympics — visiting the podium most recently on a Sunday morning in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
Entering the competition, much was made of the fact that McMorris has won a gold medal at every major event except the Olympics.
And there is still that void.
But who cares, really?
En route to winning both of his Olympic medals, McMorris has demonstrated a degree of resiliency that is nothing short of awe-inspiring.
Eleven days before the 2014 Olympics in Russia, McMorris suffered a broken rib. It is difficult to imagine the pain he experienced, especially when you consider the contortions that are required to execute the simplest of his manoeuvres.
Fast forward to March 25,
2017. While snowboarding in the backcountry of B.C., McMorris broke his jaw and left arm in addition to suffering a ruptured spleen, a stable pelvic fracture, rib fractures and a collapsed left lung after crashing into a tree off a jump.
When you look at the widely circulated picture of McMorris in a hospital bed, hooked up to an assortment of tubes, one can only marvel at what he has overcome in 10½ months.
Regardless of whether McMorris is dealing with broken ribs or a battered body, he still finds a way to the podium.
Redmond Gerard of the
United States was adjudged to be the best in men’s slopestyle on Saturday. But the best story, beyond any doubt, is that of Mark McMorris.