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Snowboarder Jake Canter Wins Olympic Medal 10 Years After Nearly Dying
Jake Canter overcame more than just snowy slopes at the 2026 Olympics.
After all, the 22-year-old snowboarder earned a bronze medal during the men's slopestyle Feb. 18 at the Milano Cortina Games, a decade after nearly dying following a trampoline accident.
In 2016, Jake, then just 13 years old, had suffered a traumatic brain injury while at a trampoline park in Frisco, Calif., according to his Team USA biography. Doctors had given the teen—who was placed into a medically induced coma for four days—a 20 percent chance of survival.
With the odds against him, however, Jake recovered and got back on the board in August 2017. Although he was left permanently deaf in his right ear, the athlete learned to maintain his balance.
And that was clear as Jake soared on the snowy hills at Livigno Snow Park in Sondrio, earning a 79.36 in his final run. He was thrilled with his performance coming down the course, repeatedly yelling, "Come on!"
Jake joined the podium with Team China's Yiming Su, who took home gold with his 82.41 score, and Japan's Taiga Hasegawa, who earned silver after scoring 82.13.
Since recovering from his near-death experience, Jake has remained grateful for every opportunity on his snowboard. And he commends the doctors who helped him in his journey.
"A kid lost his balance on another trampoline and hit me in the back of my skull, fracturing my skull in four places," he told Yuth Magazine in January. "It took me six months to kind of get back to normal and start feeling alright. A lot of rehab. I worked with a functional neurologist, Shane Steadman, and he fully got me back and he used snowboarding in his therapy."
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Months later, Jake said he had contracted meningitis, which led to doctors fully closing out his right ear. He added, "I had to re-learn how to walk, re-learn how to talk, learn how to do everything."
Without his right equilibrium, the athlete had to learn to compensate with only his left, using eye and brain exercises, along with physical therapy. Despite the hardships he's faced, Jake has had a loving community surrounding him.
"I'm so lucky," he emphasized. "I have the best parents in the world. They're so supportive."
As Team USA continues to compete for medals at the 2026 Winter Olympics, keep reading for the best moments from athletes, winners, celebs and more.
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Slip Up
U.S. figure skater Ilia Malinin, also known as "Quad God," takes an uncharacteristic fall during the men's single free skating competition, ultimately landing him in eighth place.
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Head in the Game
German bobsledder Laura Nolte gears up before training for the monobob, the single-person bobsleigh event for women.
Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
Victory Selfie
Following the women’s snowboard halfpipe competition, Korean snowboarder Gaon Choi poses for picture with Team USA's Chloe Kim and Mitsuki Ono of Japan taken using the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 Olympic Edition.
Qian Jun/MB Media/Getty Images
From One Olympian to Another
Georgian figure skater Nika Egadze snaps a photo with Simone Biles, the most-decorated gymnast in Olympic history, during the men's singles figure skating competition.
Daniel Kopatsch/VOIGT/Getty Images
You're on Candid Camera
A cameraman films U.S. skiers Breezy Johnson and Mikaela Shiffrin hugging after the second run of the women's team combined salom event.
Odd ANDERSEN/AFP via Getty Images
A Small Gift
French biathlete Lou Jeanmonnot has some fun with plushies of Milan-Cortina Olympics mascots Milo and Tina, which she received as part of winning the silver medal in the women's biathlon 15km individual event.
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Thinking of Home
Skier Dmytro Shepiuk uses a sticky note to send love to his fellow Ukranians after finishing the men's super-G event.
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Scream and Shout
Japan's Kaori Sakamoto is surprised by her score in the women's singles free skating team event.
JASPER JACOBS/BELGA MAG/Belga/AFP via Getty Images
All the Emotions
Dutch speedskater Jutta Leerdam wipes tears from her eyes after learning she set an Olympic record in the women’s 1,000-meter race.
Ian MacNicol/Getty Images
Big Air
China's Eileen Gu competes in the women's freestyle slopestyle—which earned her a silver medal.
Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
With Him Always
U.S. skater Maxim Naumov holds a photo of his late parents close after competing in the men's single skating short program.
Hector Vivas/Getty Images
Twists and Turns
A composite image shows off the many tricks seen in the women's freestyle slopestyle.
Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
Pierogi Power
Polish figure skater Ekaterina Kurakova holds up a plushie of a pierogi—widely considered to be Poland's national food—as she celebrates with her teammates during the women's single skating short program.
Tom Weller/Getty Images
It's a Bird, It's a Plane
No, it's Team Austria's ski jumper Julia Muehlbacher.
Robert Michael/picture alliance via Getty Images
Double Trouble
Selina Egle and Lara Michaela Kipp of Austria zoom by during the luge women's doubles.
Andreas Rentz/Getty Images
Say Cheese!
The winners of the figure skating team event snap a selfie with the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 Olympic Edition while on the podium.
Daniel Kopatsch/VOIGT/GettyImages
Never Give Up
U.S. skier Lindsey Vonn looks determined as she attends a training session days after rupturing her ACL in a crash.
Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Ice to See You
Alysa Liu of United States performs the Biellmann spin during the women's single skating short program event.
Andrew Milligan/PA Images via Getty Images
So Close
Team Great Britain's Jennifer Dodds has a nail-biting reaction to the curling mixed doubles round robin match against South Korea.
Andrew Milligan/PA Images via Getty Images
Curl It Like It's Hot
Snoop Dogg, serving as an Olympics correspondent for NBC, tries his hand at curling at a practice.
Tim Clayton/Getty Images
In Sync
U.S. figure skaters and real-life couple Evan Bates and Madison Chock are a perfect match while performing their rhythm ice dance routine.
Federico Manoni/NurPhoto via Getty Images
On the B-rink of History
Laila Edwards, the first Black woman representing the U.S. in Olympic hockey, faces off against Czech player Sara Cajanova during the United States vs. Czech Republic game.
Hannah Peters/Getty Images
Friendship Knows No Borders
Australian snowboarder Valentino Guseli shares a hug with Team Czechia's Jakub Hrones during the men's snowboard big air qualifiers.
Javier SORIANO / AFP via Getty Images
Photo Finish
Bulgarian ski jumper Vladimir Zografski hits the brakes during a training session.
Al Bello/Getty Images
Swept Away With Joy
American curler Korey Dropkin lets out a victorious shout after his team defeats Switzerland in a mixed doubles round bobin match.
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