Posted on 01/22/2016 10:58:32 AM PST by John W
Bill Johnson, the brash American who became the first U.S. skier to win an Olympic downhill title, died after a long illness, the U.S. ski team said Friday. He was 55.
Megan Harrod, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Alpine team, said Johnson died Thursday at an assisted living facility in Gresham, Oregon.
Johnson's health had been on the decline for several years after a series of strokes.
Johnson won the downhill at the 1984 Sarajevo Olympics, the first American to capture gold in Alpine skiing's marquee event. He was also the first American male to win an Olympic gold in any Alpine event.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
People are dying younger now. Middle age morbidity rates are rising.
“Johnson won the downhill at the 1984 Sarajevo Olympics”
Time flies.
Had no idea he was so ill.
ROP
I smell steroids.....
he was in bad shape ever since a bad fall in a comeback bid . but he was awesome to watch .. he had one speed on skis pedal to the metal
As an aside, Sarajevo changed quite a bit after all that went on there.
RIP, Mr. Johnson.
I remember when Bill Johnson won, a real contrast to the Euro skiers who hated his guts, especially the top Austrians who lost to him and resorted to a lot of low name calling.
Wow
That was probably a huge contributor to his demise.
Johnson’s personal life suffered as well, when his 13-month-old son, Ryan, drowned in a hot tub in 1992. At age 40, his marriage ended in divorce, and he was bankrupt and living in his class A motorhome when he mounted an improbable comeback bid for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. The comeback ended abruptly on March 22, 2001, when Johnson crashed during a training run prior to the downhill race of the 2001 U.S. Alpine Championships, held at The Big Mountain near Whitefish, Montana.[28] He sustained serious injury to the left side of his brain, nearly bit off his tongue, and was comatose for three weeks.[29]
In 2010, Johnson lived in Zigzag, near Mount Hood, and remained brain-damaged and in need of constant care, mostly from his mother. He became slightly more functional, though his speech and memory were permanently impaired.[30][31]
Later in 2010 Johnson, who had suffered a series of mini-strokes over the course of the previous ten years, fell victim to a massive stroke and was moved to a long-term care facility in Gresham, Oregon. Due to the stroke, Johnson lost the ability to sit up unassisted and could no longer use his right hand. He also lost sight in his left eye and further lost the ability to speak above a whisper. He also suffered great pain when swallowing, which made feeding him difficult.[32]
In June 2013, Johnson contracted an infection that nearly took his life. He was placed on life support while doctors worked to fight the infection. Johnson elected in July to remove himself from life support and refuse further treatment.[33] He said that the next time something like this happens, his wishes were to be left alone so he can die.[citation needed] As of February, 2014, after a return to long-term care, he was free of infection, able to move one side of his body, eat and smoke with assistance, and communicate using a letter board.[34] However, later again Johnson experienced worsening health.
Johnson died on January 21, 2016, at the care facility in Gresham.[35] He was 55.
Source: Wikipedia
RIP
I remember him well. Win or crash. Nothing in between.
Kid was raised in a bad home and somehow got turned on to skiing.
“Sarajevo changed quite a bit after all that went on there.”
yes. What a shame
I recall he was also a great "glider". On flat-ish parts of a course, his skis would get super quiet and he'd eek out a mph where others would lose time in the flats.
I'm suspecting one too many falls (helmet or no helmet) were the case of so many strokes at a young age. Sort of a downhiller thing.
Especially among white men. There was some study about it that was in the news not that long ago. It didn't last long in the news cycle, which is a pity. I'd like to know WHY white men are dying earlier.
Being a white man in my 50's and all...
his last race he crashed and had massive brain injuries.. that did it
I’m in my mid 40s and read similar articles.
I’m in my mid 40s and read similar articles.
I’m in my mid 40s and read similar articles.
I’m in my mid 40s and read similar articles.
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