Snowboarder recovers from horrific accident to win Olympic medal

In March 2017, Canadian snowboarder Mark McMorris laid in a hospital bed with fractured ribs, a fractured left arm, pelvis, and jaw, along with a ruptured spleen and collapsed left lung.

On Saturday, less than a year after he slammed into a tree while backcountry snowboarding, McMorris claimed an Olympic bronze medal in the men's slopestyle event.

SEE ALSO: These LGBTQ Olympians are here to break records (and tiny queer hearts)

"I’m trying not to think too much about the past today," he said to reporters after his improbable victory. "A lot of times I need to pinch myself. There have been some low times, but these high times make it worthwhile."

Apparently a lot can change in a week.. So so thankful to have my life! It was touch and go there for a second and I don't know how I can thank everyone enough for praying and sending healing vibes.... I hit a tree in the whistler backcountry a week ago and to be honest I was pretty sure I was going to die... @craigmcmorris @torsteinhorgmo @erinhogue @brandonkelly and @ryantiene saved my life by staying calm, building me a nest, and calling search and rescue🙏🏼 I will never take another day on this earth for granted .. 😌 Much Love❤

A post shared by Mark McMorris (@markmcmorris) on Apr 2, 2017 at 12:25pm PDT

McMorris, who won his first bronze medal in slopestyle during the 2014 Sochi Olympics, went into his final run knowing he'd probably missed out on the gold medal.

Mashable Top Stories Stay connected with the hottest stories of the day and the latest entertainment news. Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up!

He could've attempted a less difficult performance, but according to the National Post, the 24-year-old decided to attempt a daring jump: a backside triple 1620, which involves three flips and four-and-a-half rotations.

Though he's previously landed the maneuver, he came up just short this time.

"It’s worse when you play it safe and it doesn’t work out,” he said at first, then seeming to reframe his achievement. "It did work out. I probably shouldn’t even be here, so I’m pretty stoked."

And no doubt viewers are pretty stoked for McMorris as well. It's not every day you get to celebrate an athlete who's one of the best in the world -- and inspires the hell out of you.

---

Featured Video For You

---

This is how Margot Robbie looked like a master figure skater on 'I, Tonya'

---