Winter Olympics: Colby Stevenson wins silver six years after life-threatening car accident

In his own words, reaching the Winter Olympics was a miracle in itself for Colby Stevenson, six years on from a life-threatening car accident.

It will therefore take some time for the 24-year-old's silver medal in the men's freestyle skiing big air, on his Games debut, to sink in.

«I feel like everything happens for a reason,» said Stevenson.

«I think it is a good way to look at life and to think positively and come out of dark times like that. That in itself is a miracle and surviving the car crash is a miracle.»

The American suffered 30 fractures to his skull after the truck he was driving flipped over when he fell asleep at the wheel when driving close to 500 miles home from a competition in 2016. Such were the severity of his injuries, he was placed in an induced coma.

Determined to make a full recovery, he battled through pain and depression to return to action.

Remarkably, he was back on his skis just five months later.

«Your character is really defined in those tougher times in life,» Stevenson said.

«That's what defines who you are. Even though you're maybe dealt bad cards, it's about how you're going to deal with that in a positive light, move forward and push towards your dreams, even though they seem so far out of reach.»

The 2021 World Championship slopestyle silver medallist, from New Hampshire, ranked 10th out of 12 riders after the first of three runs in Wednesday's Olympic final.

Armed with a new perspective that he credits with benefiting his performance, Stevenson delivered on his sport's biggest stage to secure a podium place behind Norwegian Birk Ruud.

«If it wasn't the car crash, it probably would have been something else that shifted my perspective,» he said.

«I am definitely grateful to have that mentality