Who is Max Parrot? The Canadian snowboarder going for second Beijing 2022 gold after beating cancer

ByMichael Hincks

Updated 15/02/2022 at 01:52 GMT

Max Parrot was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in December 2018. After 12 chemotherapy treatments in six months, he returned to competition and won big air gold in the Winter X Games in 2020. Now, after winning slopestyle gold at Beijing 2022, the Canadian snowboarder is targeting another medal in the men’s big air final on Tuesday at the Winter Olympics.

Max Parrot is chasing a second medal of the Winter Olympics – just three years after he overcame a battle with Hodgkin lymphoma.

The Canadian snowboarder made headlines when taking gold in the men’s slopestyle final at Beijing 2022, upgrading from the silver he won at Pyeongchang four years ago.

He may have won the final in controversial circumstances – with replays showing he missed a grab in his routine – but his feat was dubbed a “shining example of resilience” having fought off cancer after 12 rounds of chemotherapy.

Beijing 2022

'Told me I would be DQ'd' – Medallist upset as IOC makes her scribble out board logo

16/02/2022 at 12:49

“It was never an option for cancer to beat me,” Parrot said, after a score of 90.96 points was enough to claim gold in the slopestyle.

“But, for sure, I was scared a lot of the time. You don’t know how the treatment is going to work. You don’t know what life has got in store for you.

“I was healthy. I was 24 years old. I was an athlete. And I got cancer. It proves it can happen to anybody. But I never gave cancer a chance. I fought so hard every day to beat cancer.

• Parrot wins controversial slopestyle gold – What happened exactly?

“I am much more mentally stronger, especially after my battle with cancer. Going through 12 treatments of chemotherapy over six months makes you a lot stronger.

'It feels amazing, best run of my entire career' - Cancer-beating Parrot on winning gold

“I don’t take anything for granted any more. It made me such a better snowboarder, as well.

“I try to appreciate every day now – the little things in the morning through to my passion of snowboarding. I try to smile all day long now, and the results come with that now as well. It’s amazing.”

Parrot was initially diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in 2018 and returned to action the following year after getting the all-clear.

Having won five Winter X Games golds before his diagnosis, he picked up where he left off when winning gold in the big air again in 2020, while last month he won silver in the 2022 edition.

‘Beautiful’ - Parrot seals inspirational gold after cancer battle

He also picked up silver in the big air at the world championships last year, meaning he will be hoping to make the podium for a second time in Beijing.

Parrot topped big air qualifying to reach the final. He was ninth after his opening attempt, but he then took the lead with a 86.50 score.

Otsuka Takeru, Marcus Kleveland, Red Gerard, Kunitake Hiroaki and Su Yiming are among the names out to challenge Parrot for a place on the podium.

--

Watch every moment of Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 on discovery+

Beijing 2022

‘He is having the time of his life!’ – 17-year-old Su with ‘massive’ run to seal home gold

00:01:44

|

15/02/2022 at 09:06

Beijing 2022

Teenager Su Yiming shines to claim home gold in big air

15/02/2022 at 09:29