Three
years back Max Parrot was battling cancer in hospital, on Monday he won another
perishing battle to win men’s snowboard slopestyle gold at the Beijing Winter
Olympics.

Also Read: Winter Olympics: Canadian, Russian players wear masks during ice hockey match

The
Canadian, who was left with “zero per cent” by chemotherapy when he was
diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in 2018, beat 17-year-old Chinese home
favourite Su Yiming to win gold with a score of 90.96.

“Exactly
three years ago I was lying in a hospital and I had no energy, no muscles, no
cardio,” said Parrot.

Also Read: Beijing Olympics 2022: Shiffrin’s fall in Olympic giant slalom will stick with her

“It
was the hardest moment of my life and to be standing here three years later at
the Olympics again, doing my passion, laying down the best run I’ve ever done
and winning gold – it’s insane.”

The
27-year-old said cancer made him feel like “a lion in a cage”, just months
after winning silver at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games.

Also Read: Winter Olympics: Johan Clarey creates history winning medal at 41

At
Beijing 2022 he was at his absolute best when the competition began on Monday
in Beijing, overtaking defending champion Red Gerard for the lead
with his second run.

The
Canadian, however, got competition from teenage athlete Su, who thrilled the small
but enthusiastic crowd with his high-flying antics. But in the end, it was
Parrot who won the contest and finished on top of the podium, joined by
silver-medallist Su on 88.70 points and fellow Canadian, Mark McMorris, in
third on 88.53.

Also Read: Athletes urged to speak out by activists at the Beijing Olympics

“I
used to take life for granted and I don’t any more,” said Parrot, who will
look to complete a golden double in the Big Air competition.

“Every
time I strap my feet on my snowboard, I appreciate it so much more than
before.”

Also Read: How COVID tests, isolation will work at Beijing Winter Olympics

‘Dream
come true’- Su Yiming 

Su,
bagging the silver, became China’s first-ever medallist in men’s snowboarding.

“It’s
a dream come true, for sure,” said Su, who has competed in six events on
the World Cup circuit so far.

Also Read: In Pics | China’s ‘zero COVID policy’ in Beijing before Winter Olympics

“It’s
my first time at the Olympics, and in my hometown – I’m so happy to put my runs
down today and share the podium with my idols,” added the Chinese athlete.

McMorris
edged out Gerard with his final run, earning bronze for the third Winter Games
in a row.

Also Read: 2008 Beijing Olympics vs 2022: No lofty promises this time

“I’m
super-proud of myself for rising to the occasion on the last run,” said
the 28-year-old McMorris.

“People
love to say it’s a short-lived sport and a young man’s sport, and I’m
super-proud of myself to be riding at a high level like that.”

Also Read: US sending 222 athletes to Beijing Winter Olympics, 4 of them are 5-timers

Parrot,
the king of the day

But
it was the day that belonged to Parrot, who had produced a sub-par performance
in the qualifying event putting him fourth out of 12 in the running order.

On
Monday, he celebrated the historic individual achievement by wrapping himself
in a Canadian flag and lifting his board in triumph and said he would take time
to decide his next move.

Also Read: Winter Olympics: 6 people linked to games test positive for COVID-19

“I’ll
probably take some down time at home because the past few years was so much
hard work,” he said.

“I’m
only 27 years old, so it would definitely be possible to be at the next
Olympics.”