US Downhill Gold Medalist Dies at 55

Johnson tried to make a comeback ahead of the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics at the age of 40, but crashed in a downhill training run in 2001 at the U.S. championships at The Big Mountain near Whitefish, Montana. He sustained a traumatic brain injury that erased nearly a decade of memories. He had to learn how to walk, talk and eat again.

Johnson made steady improvement over the years, even returning to the slopes for recreation. But his health deteriorated again because of strokes, and he spent his last years in the assisted living center near Portland.

Former Olympic downhill champ Bill Johnson dies at age 55

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calamity said:

Man, I did not know any of this.

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RetiredUSN said:

Accidentally found skiing by stealing cars.............. true story!

He can thank that judge for giving him a second chance

RIP......Bill

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