Olympic downhill Gold Medal winner Bill Johnson passes away at 55

[spintheblackcircle]

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/be4d...ympic-downhill-champ-bill-johnson-dies-age-55

Bill Johnson, the first American skier to win an Olympic downhill title, has died after a long illness, the U.S. ski team said Friday. He was 55.

Megan Harrod, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Alpine team, said Johnson died Thursday at an assisted living facility in Gresham, Oregon.

Johnson's health had been on the decline for several years after a series of strokes.

He tried to make a comeback ahead of the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics but was badly injured in a downhill training run in 2001, sustaining a traumatic brain injury.

https://vimeo.com/116886512

this is the e:60 documentary about him. He was a criminal as a kid until he found skiing, then was a party guy....interesting

Click to read more...

 

[ChiGuySez]

RIP.

I remember watching Johnsons gold medal downhill win. Quite amazing considering he was a "glider" and beat the Swiss and Austrians. Canadas Steve Podborski placed 8th.