A near death experience in the 2006 Winter Olympics changed the life and career of one of the greatest skiers in American Alpine history, Bode Miller.
Not only did the moment affect his personal and professional life, but it also reinvigorated his career, as he went on to win more Olympic medals and became the oldest skier to ever medal in Olympic history.
7 Sports Personalities Who Nearly Died
Maya Gabeira (01 of07)
Brazilian surfer Maya Gabeira, 27, was surfing the biggest wave ever tackled by a woman in Nazaré, Portugal when she nearly drowned.
She was attempting to beat the 78-foot record set by Garrett McNa-mara in 2011.
She had been training for months before hitting an 80-foot wave in Nazaré on October 28 2013, but lost control and was forced under the water. She was battered by several 50-foot waves and had all the air pushed out of her lungs.
Her cohort Carlos Burle initiated a daring rescue, dragging her to shore so lifeguards could administer CPR. Gabeira vomited half a gallon of water and started breathing again.
She still surfs, and still hopes to break world records. (credit:Ivo Gonzalez/Globo via Getty Images)
She was attempting to beat the 78-foot record set by Garrett McNa-mara in 2011.
She had been training for months before hitting an 80-foot wave in Nazaré on October 28 2013, but lost control and was forced under the water. She was battered by several 50-foot waves and had all the air pushed out of her lungs.
Her cohort Carlos Burle initiated a daring rescue, dragging her to shore so lifeguards could administer CPR. Gabeira vomited half a gallon of water and started breathing again.
She still surfs, and still hopes to break world records. (credit:Ivo Gonzalez/Globo via Getty Images)
Fabrice Muamba(02 of07)
On 17 March 2012 Bolton footballer Fabrice Muamba collapsed on the pitch during a game against Tottenham Hotspur.
Players began crying as medical personnel administered CPR, and he was taken to hospital after seven minutes.
For 78 minutes, Muamba's heart wasn't beating. Doctors at the London Chest Hospital managed to revive him and he regained consciousness three days later.
Unable to play football, Muamba now campaigns for defibrillator installation and is preparing for a career in sports journalism. (credit:AP Photo/Jon Super)
Players began crying as medical personnel administered CPR, and he was taken to hospital after seven minutes.
For 78 minutes, Muamba's heart wasn't beating. Doctors at the London Chest Hospital managed to revive him and he regained consciousness three days later.
Unable to play football, Muamba now campaigns for defibrillator installation and is preparing for a career in sports journalism. (credit:AP Photo/Jon Super)
Tony Hawk(03 of07)
Skateboarding legend Tony Hawk was the first person to ever complete a 900-degree spin on a board in 1999.
But in 2003, while filming a segment for Jackass spin-off Wildboyz, Hawk flew from a loop-de-loop and suffered a broken pelvis and fractured skull.
He woke up in hospital and took nearly a year off before getting back to skateboarding. (credit: John Shearer/Invision/AP)
But in 2003, while filming a segment for Jackass spin-off Wildboyz, Hawk flew from a loop-de-loop and suffered a broken pelvis and fractured skull.
He woke up in hospital and took nearly a year off before getting back to skateboarding. (credit: John Shearer/Invision/AP)
Alexander Doni(04 of07)
Former Liverpool FC goalkeeper Alexander Doni was forced to take a step back from playing for the Reds when he suffered a heart attack.
"I almost... I almost ended up on the other side. I had a heart attack for about 25 seconds," he told calciomercato.com.
"I always had an arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) and during some tests in Liverpool suffered a cardiac arrest," he added to Globo.
Following a revelation, Doni went back to his home club Botafogo, where he has high hopes for the future. (credit:Clint Hughes via Getty Images)
"I almost... I almost ended up on the other side. I had a heart attack for about 25 seconds," he told calciomercato.com.
"I always had an arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) and during some tests in Liverpool suffered a cardiac arrest," he added to Globo.
Following a revelation, Doni went back to his home club Botafogo, where he has high hopes for the future. (credit:Clint Hughes via Getty Images)
Bode Miller(05 of07)
American skier Bode Miller was tipped to win big at the Turin 2006 Winter Olympics, but crumbled under the pressure.
Facing a humiliating return to the USA that could end his career, Miller had a lucky escape when he nearly crashed into some trees at 60mph.
The experience brought him to a stark realisation, which led to him cleaning up at his next two Winter Olympics and becoming the oldest skier to ever win a medal in the games. (credit:Ezra Shaw via Getty Images)
Facing a humiliating return to the USA that could end his career, Miller had a lucky escape when he nearly crashed into some trees at 60mph.
The experience brought him to a stark realisation, which led to him cleaning up at his next two Winter Olympics and becoming the oldest skier to ever win a medal in the games. (credit:Ezra Shaw via Getty Images)
Jonah Lomu(06 of07)
New Zealand rugby legend Jonah Lomu has suffered from a rare kidney illness since 1995, and his body went into total meltdown just minutes after he took part in the 2011 World Cup opening ceremony.
After vomiting, sweating and shaking most of the night, Lomu was taken to hospital where doctors found his transplanted kidney has failed.
"My bloodstream was septic and the doctors were starting to think the worst: that my kidney had failed and my body was in total meltdown," he wrote in his autobiography.
Doctor John Mayhew said: "There was a distinct possibility he could have died as a result of serious renal failure."
Lomu is currently on dialysis and awaits a second transplant. (credit:Greg Wood/AFP/Getty Images)
After vomiting, sweating and shaking most of the night, Lomu was taken to hospital where doctors found his transplanted kidney has failed.
"My bloodstream was septic and the doctors were starting to think the worst: that my kidney had failed and my body was in total meltdown," he wrote in his autobiography.
Doctor John Mayhew said: "There was a distinct possibility he could have died as a result of serious renal failure."
Lomu is currently on dialysis and awaits a second transplant. (credit:Greg Wood/AFP/Getty Images)
Paul Gascoigne(07 of07)
England football legend Paul Gascoigne recently revealed he had almost died 19 times during his battle with alcoholism.
The 47-year-old has been in and out of rehab seven times during his 18 year battle. (credit:AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
The 47-year-old has been in and out of rehab seven times during his 18 year battle. (credit:AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)