| Did you know that Sunday, Valentine’s Day, was National Donor Day?! In an article by Bonnie Ford of ESPN, she wrote: “If anyone needs a reminder of how the generosity of organ donors and their families saves and transforms lives, look no further than the U.S. snowboard team. Chris Klug is back for his third Olympics at age 37, eight years after he won a bronze medal in Salt Lake City in parallel giant slalom with duct tape holding one of his boots together. The greater significance of the story was the more intricate internal repair job that enables him to be there.”
Olympian Chris Klug Video
When Chris was in his early 20’s, he was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis, a deteriorating liver disease, the same disease that took the life of Chicago Bears great Walter Payton. Chris’ name was added to the National Transplant List and he would wait on that list for three years before receiving a healthy liver.
Two years after receiving a new liver, Chris went on to capture the Bronze at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games. He knew he had been given a tremendous opportunity to promote the importance of organ donation. Yesterday, Chris posted this on his website:
“Please celebrate with me by saying yes to organ donation and visiting www.chrisklugfoundation.org to register with your respective state’s on-line donor registry. I’m here today because of it.
I’m stoked to be in Vancouver at my third Winter Games. I’m having so much fun at the Athlete Village cheering on my US Teammates and taking it all in. I’m proud to be here helping represent Team USA! The Opening Ceremonies were awesome! What a show. Walking into the arena gave me chills again. I’m back on-snow training this week at Whistler and Mt. Washington on Vancouver Island in preparation for our race at Cypress Mtn. Feb. 27th. I was up there yesterday checking out the snow. It’s wet, but there’s plenty of it. I’m confident that we will have a good hard surface to race on somehow. We finally saw the sun today after two days of rain. I enjoyed walking all over town this evening. Vancouver is a huge party for the Games. I’m so happy to be here and excited to go for it. I’m enjoying hanging out in the Olympic Village for a few days before heading to Vancouver Island for training. I’m absolutely feasting in the athlete dinning tent. I’ve already met many new friends. Michelle and I went to Short Track with Missy and Hillary last night and watched JR and Apolo win medals. Pretty cool! Thanks for all your support. Talk to you soon, CK”
To learn more about Chris, please visit www.chrisklug.com/news.php
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I loved this one and the one on the dash!