I love to win and I hate to lose even more
more
more in late 2009 I was entirely focused on
in late 2009 I was entirely focused on
in late 2009 I was entirely focused on the Vancouver Winter Olympics and
the Vancouver Winter Olympics and
the Vancouver Winter Olympics and learning a new trick
learning a new trick
learning a new trick called a double cork double corks are
called a double cork double corks are
called a double cork double corks are pretty crazy I don’t know how many you
pretty crazy I don’t know how many you
pretty crazy I don’t know how many you guys know about snowboarding but like I
guys know about snowboarding but like I
guys know about snowboarding but like I was trying to learn this trick called a
was trying to learn this trick called a
was trying to learn this trick called a double cork and I was entirely focused
double cork and I was entirely focused
double cork and I was entirely focused everything I had was going in to going
everything I had was going in to going
everything I had was going in to going to Vancouver and winning the gold medal
to Vancouver and winning the gold medal
to Vancouver and winning the gold medal and I was set up to do it right I was
and I was set up to do it right I was
and I was set up to do it right I was there I was winning I was travelling
there I was winning I was travelling
there I was winning I was travelling around the world and I was like the man
around the world and I was like the man
around the world and I was like the man at that time back in 2009 I was like
at that time back in 2009 I was like
at that time back in 2009 I was like doing it like it was on what’s crazy is
doing it like it was on what’s crazy is
doing it like it was on what’s crazy is I was having these thoughts from my
I was having these thoughts from my
I was having these thoughts from my hospital bed on December 31st 2009 while
hospital bed on December 31st 2009 while
hospital bed on December 31st 2009 while training in Park City Utah I suffered a
training in Park City Utah I suffered a
training in Park City Utah I suffered a traumatic brain injury a TBI
traumatic brain injury a TBI
traumatic brain injury a TBI I was medically airlifted from the
I was medically airlifted from the
I was medically airlifted from the bottom of the halfpipe to the University
bottom of the halfpipe to the University
bottom of the halfpipe to the University of Utah where I spent the next 36 days
of Utah where I spent the next 36 days
of Utah where I spent the next 36 days in critical care which I have no memory
in critical care which I have no memory
in critical care which I have no memory of no memory of it all about being in
of no memory of it all about being in
of no memory of it all about being in Utah I was then medically airlifted to
Utah I was then medically airlifted to
Utah I was then medically airlifted to Craig Hospital in Denver Colorado where
Craig Hospital in Denver Colorado where
Craig Hospital in Denver Colorado where I spent the next three and a half months
I spent the next three and a half months
I spent the next three and a half months in all I could think about was getting
in all I could think about was getting
in all I could think about was getting back in the halfpipe
back in the halfpipe
back in the halfpipe [Music]
[Music]
[Music] Kevin Pierce raised a maple sort of
Kevin Pierce raised a maple sort of
Kevin Pierce raised a maple sort of sharp chatter leaned on the hills over
sharp chatter leaned on the hills over
sharp chatter leaned on the hills over my this guy right here is slaying it
what school do you have people saying a
what school do you have people saying a girl in Olimpico for super excited –
girl in Olimpico for super excited –
girl in Olimpico for super excited – don’t work this way Kevin Pierce
don’t work this way Kevin Pierce
don’t work this way Kevin Pierce yes given Shaun White to run
yes given Shaun White to run
yes given Shaun White to run money for Sean
money for Sean
money for Sean we share the same talent was such an
we share the same talent was such an
we share the same talent was such an exciting time for us going into the
exciting time for us going into the
exciting time for us going into the Olympics
Olympics
Olympics Kevin was the guy to beat Sean Whyte
anything we’re going to be blown away
anything we’re going to be blown away what they get to see
American snowboarder Kevin Pierce
American snowboarder Kevin Pierce remains in critical condition tonight
remains in critical condition tonight
remains in critical condition tonight after a training accident in Utah you
after a training accident in Utah you
after a training accident in Utah you know and then he would pinch with his
know and then he would pinch with his
know and then he would pinch with his right hand but his left hand wouldn’t
right hand but his left hand wouldn’t
right hand but his left hand wouldn’t work so then we were like you know is he
work so then we were like you know is he
work so then we were like you know is he paralyzed there’s very little change and
paralyzed there’s very little change and
paralyzed there’s very little change and then after that it felt like there was
then after that it felt like there was
then after that it felt like there was like this amazing ladder of progression
I just like to toast how much better and
I just like to toast how much better and I have got
I have got
I have got that’s it baby three months and Craig
that’s it baby three months and Craig
that’s it baby three months and Craig and I’m out later it’s just so exciting
and I’m out later it’s just so exciting
and I’m out later it’s just so exciting that I’m gonna get back to it I still
that I’m gonna get back to it I still
that I’m gonna get back to it I still want to snow work I want that feeling
want to snow work I want that feeling
want to snow work I want that feeling back badly
back badly
back badly you cannot afford because of the way
you cannot afford because of the way
you cannot afford because of the way that the I was injured it’s not
that the I was injured it’s not
that the I was injured it’s not realistic to expect a single vision and
realistic to expect a single vision and
realistic to expect a single vision and every direction what a day
every direction what a day
every direction what a day which was
which was
which was he’ll 100% confident
he’ll 100% confident
he’ll 100% confident nah I just don’t get it boys
nah I just don’t get it boys
nah I just don’t get it boys [Music]
it’s a whole new life-form you know I
it’s a whole new life-form you know I used to be waking up every morning in a
used to be waking up every morning in a
used to be waking up every morning in a new country going to a big snowboard
new country going to a big snowboard
new country going to a big snowboard contest and now it’s waking up every
contest and now it’s waking up every
contest and now it’s waking up every morning and just being so happy to be
morning and just being so happy to be
morning and just being so happy to be here when I was a younger kid I remember
here when I was a younger kid I remember
here when I was a younger kid I remember thinking that if something bad happens
thinking that if something bad happens
thinking that if something bad happens to me I’m gonna be able to come back and
to me I’m gonna be able to come back and
to me I’m gonna be able to come back and I’m real come back really strong and
I’m real come back really strong and
I’m real come back really strong and then it’s like it happened to me it’s
then it’s like it happened to me it’s
then it’s like it happened to me it’s it’s geared to a thought that fear I
it’s geared to a thought that fear I
it’s geared to a thought that fear I feel like I’ve come back pretty good
feel like I’ve come back pretty good
feel like I’ve come back pretty good personal crimes small knowledge thank
personal crimes small knowledge thank
personal crimes small knowledge thank you for passengers
thank you
thank you a lot of contest maybe some won a lot of
a lot of contest maybe some won a lot of
a lot of contest maybe some won a lot of trophies and since this I haven’t won
trophies and since this I haven’t won
trophies and since this I haven’t won any trophy so
I’ve broken bones before lots of broken
I’ve broken bones before lots of broken bones all sorts of different broken
bones all sorts of different broken
bones all sorts of different broken bones I broke my ankle training for
bones I broke my ankle training for
bones I broke my ankle training for these same Olympics and with that injury
these same Olympics and with that injury
these same Olympics and with that injury my brain told me your ankles broken
my brain told me your ankles broken
my brain told me your ankles broken right like you know when you break a
right like you know when you break a
right like you know when you break a bone it was like I was very easy to tell
bone it was like I was very easy to tell
bone it was like I was very easy to tell I couldn’t get back up there and start
I couldn’t get back up there and start
I couldn’t get back up there and start snowboarding again until my ankle had
snowboarding again until my ankle had
snowboarding again until my ankle had healed but when the 6-pound organ inside
healed but when the 6-pound organ inside
healed but when the 6-pound organ inside my skull became injured it was unable to
my skull became injured it was unable to
my skull became injured it was unable to tell me it was hurt I couldn’t even walk
tell me it was hurt I couldn’t even walk
tell me it was hurt I couldn’t even walk I was be just beginning to learn how to
I was be just beginning to learn how to
I was be just beginning to learn how to talk again and my brain was telling me
talk again and my brain was telling me
talk again and my brain was telling me that I needed to get back up there I was
that I needed to get back up there I was
that I needed to get back up there I was in the hospital thinking why am I not
in the hospital thinking why am I not
in the hospital thinking why am I not riding why am I not up there practicing
riding why am I not up there practicing
riding why am I not up there practicing like no mom I’m not going to go to Craig
like no mom I’m not going to go to Craig
like no mom I’m not going to go to Craig Hospital I need to get back to the
Hospital I need to get back to the
Hospital I need to get back to the halfpipe that’s dead honest my brain was
halfpipe that’s dead honest my brain was
halfpipe that’s dead honest my brain was lying to me in a brain injury is like a
lying to me in a brain injury is like a
lying to me in a brain injury is like a fingerprint it is so different every
fingerprint it is so different every
fingerprint it is so different every brain injury is so different in a brain
brain injury is so different in a brain
brain injury is so different in a brain injury is to the doctors like the ocean
injury is to the doctors like the ocean
injury is to the doctors like the ocean floor is the oceanographers the
floor is the oceanographers the
floor is the oceanographers the mysteries of both they remain so vast
mysteries of both they remain so vast
mysteries of both they remain so vast and so unknown and that’s that’s they we
and so unknown and that’s that’s they we
and so unknown and that’s that’s they we don’t know about brain injuries and how
don’t know about brain injuries and how
don’t know about brain injuries and how lucky am i versus how hard I have worked
lucky am i versus how hard I have worked
lucky am i versus how hard I have worked to get back to where I am right now in
to get back to where I am right now in
to get back to where I am right now in front of you guys we don’t know we don’t
front of you guys we don’t know we don’t
front of you guys we don’t know we don’t know enough about the brain to know the
know enough about the brain to know the
know enough about the brain to know the answer to that question but what I do
answer to that question but what I do
answer to that question but what I do know is that a lot of things about me
know is that a lot of things about me
know is that a lot of things about me haven’t changed
haven’t changed
haven’t changed I’ve always been this determined and
I’ve always been this determined and
I’ve always been this determined and focused I’ve always given it everything
focused I’ve always given it everything
focused I’ve always given it everything I’ve got and I’ve never settled for
I’ve got and I’ve never settled for
I’ve got and I’ve never settled for average in those things they have not
average in those things they have not
average in those things they have not changed in my family they can vouch for
changed in my family they can vouch for
changed in my family they can vouch for me
me
me now two years after this injury I had to
now two years after this injury I had to
now two years after this injury I had to go into the hospital because my eyes
go into the hospital because my eyes
go into the hospital because my eyes needed to be surgically realigned like
needed to be surgically realigned like
needed to be surgically realigned like dad to go do surgery surgery and like
dad to go do surgery surgery and like
dad to go do surgery surgery and like move the muscles in my eyes like and
move the muscles in my eyes like and
move the muscles in my eyes like and died surgeon told me that it was not
died surgeon told me that it was not
died surgeon told me that it was not realistic to ever expect single vision
realistic to ever expect single vision
realistic to ever expect single vision in every direction of gaze she told me I
in every direction of gaze she told me I
in every direction of gaze she told me I would have to live with double vision in
would have to live with double vision in
would have to live with double vision in different gazes for the rest of my life
different gazes for the rest of my life
different gazes for the rest of my life this was a diagnosis I was not willing
this was a diagnosis I was not willing
this was a diagnosis I was not willing to accept and I believe it’s because the
to accept and I believe it’s because the
to accept and I believe it’s because the doctors in the vast unknown they
doctors in the vast unknown they
doctors in the vast unknown they unintentionally put limitations on to us
unintentionally put limitations on to us
unintentionally put limitations on to us into our brains but why my brain hears
into our brains but why my brain hears
into our brains but why my brain hears these limitations but I choose not to
these limitations but I choose not to
these limitations but I choose not to listen I look up I see – the whole world
listen I look up I see – the whole world
listen I look up I see – the whole world goes double and I’ve been told that it’s
goes double and I’ve been told that it’s
goes double and I’ve been told that it’s never going to be fixed and then I’ve
never going to be fixed and then I’ve
never going to be fixed and then I’ve been told by doctors that they guarantee
been told by doctors that they guarantee
been told by doctors that they guarantee that they can heal this so there’s so
that they can heal this so there’s so
that they can heal this so there’s so much unknown now that I’m not
much unknown now that I’m not
much unknown now that I’m not snowboarding competitively anymore
snowboarding competitively anymore
snowboarding competitively anymore I’m doing everything I can to get back
I’m doing everything I can to get back
I’m doing everything I can to get back to the best place I can possibly be
to the best place I can possibly be
to the best place I can possibly be and the first thing I did was realize
and the first thing I did was realize
and the first thing I did was realize that these risk I was taking was not
that these risk I was taking was not
that these risk I was taking was not only going to affect me but it was going
only going to affect me but it was going
only going to affect me but it was going to affect my family and all the people
to affect my family and all the people
to affect my family and all the people around me and so I did one of the
around me and so I did one of the
around me and so I did one of the hardest things I decided to listen to my
hardest things I decided to listen to my
hardest things I decided to listen to my mom because I
I knew she knew better than me I mean
I knew she knew better than me I mean like damn that was a hard to listen to
like damn that was a hard to listen to
like damn that was a hard to listen to her like telling me like you got to go
her like telling me like you got to go
her like telling me like you got to go go take if you got to go to bed or like
go take if you got to go to bed or like
go take if you got to go to bed or like no you can’t drive or you need to take
no you can’t drive or you need to take
no you can’t drive or you need to take drivers at again because they take your
drivers at again because they take your
drivers at again because they take your license away when you get a brain injury
license away when you get a brain injury
license away when you get a brain injury so you have to do drivers will add all
so you have to do drivers will add all
so you have to do drivers will add all over again like I listen to my mom and
over again like I listen to my mom and
over again like I listen to my mom and that is the main reason that I am up
that is the main reason that I am up
that is the main reason that I am up here in the condition in the shape that
here in the condition in the shape that
here in the condition in the shape that I am is because I have done all the
I am is because I have done all the
I am is because I have done all the things that are so important and it has
things that are so important and it has
things that are so important and it has been so hard it has been so much harder
been so hard it has been so much harder
been so hard it has been so much harder than anything that I ever trained for
than anything that I ever trained for
than anything that I ever trained for before including those Olympics trying
before including those Olympics trying
before including those Olympics trying to heal this brain has been the toughest
to heal this brain has been the toughest
to heal this brain has been the toughest most difficult challenge that I have
most difficult challenge that I have
most difficult challenge that I have ever been put in front of into this day
ever been put in front of into this day
ever been put in front of into this day over seven years later do I spend every
over seven years later do I spend every
over seven years later do I spend every single day working on healing these
single day working on healing these
single day working on healing these issues that I deal with this double
issues that I deal with this double
issues that I deal with this double vision because I will fix it I will this
vision because I will fix it I will this
vision because I will fix it I will this double vision will be healed but we
double vision will be healed but we
double vision will be healed but we don’t know when because it’s so unknown
don’t know when because it’s so unknown
don’t know when because it’s so unknown and that is damn hard not to know but
and that is damn hard not to know but
and that is damn hard not to know but today I’m here my focus is no longer on
today I’m here my focus is no longer on
today I’m here my focus is no longer on that unbecoming the best snowboarder in
that unbecoming the best snowboarder in
that unbecoming the best snowboarder in the world my focus has changed in my
the world my focus has changed in my
the world my focus has changed in my main focus is on living the most mindful
main focus is on living the most mindful
main focus is on living the most mindful present life possible because I’m here
present life possible because I’m here
present life possible because I’m here with each and every one of you right now
with each and every one of you right now
with each and every one of you right now in this moment because this moment is
in this moment because this moment is
in this moment because this moment is the only moment that we will ever have
the only moment that we will ever have
the only moment that we will ever have thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
[Music]
[Music] you
”
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