{"page":"\u003clink rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https://lessonplanet.com/assets/packs/css/resources-c03aa079.css\" /\u003e\n\u003clink rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https://lessonplanet.com/assets/packs/css/lp_boclips_stylesheets-517835be.css\" media=\"all\" /\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-title='From Near-Death To The Olympics: A Transformation That Will Inspire You' data-url='/boclips/videos/6878e30f68f2517d6787667e' data-video-url='/boclips/videos/6878e30f68f2517d6787667e' id='bo_player_modal'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='boclips-resource-page modal-dialog panel-container'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='react-notifications-root'\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-header'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-type'\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fai fa-regular fa-circle-play'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\nVideo\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch1 class='rp-title' id='video-title'\u003e\nFrom Near-Death To The Olympics: A Transformation That Will Inspire You\n\u003c/h1\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-actions'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='mr-1'\u003e\n\u003ca class=\"btn btn-success\" data-posthog-event=\"Signup: LP Signup Activity\" data-posthog-location=\"body_link_boclips\" data-remote=\"true\" href=\"/subscription/new\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGet Free Access\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e for 10 Days\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e!\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-body'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-info'\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-label='Hide resource details' class='rp-hide-info' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\u0026times;\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ci aria-label='Expand resource details' class='rp-expand-info fai fa-solid fa-up-right-and-down-left-from-center' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003ci aria-label='Compress resource details' class='rp-compress-info fai fa-solid fa-down-left-and-up-right-to-center' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-rating'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='resource-pool'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='pool-label'\u003ePublisher:\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003cspan class='pool-name'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='text'\u003e\u003ca data-publisher-id=\"30356011\" href=\"/search?publisher_ids%5B%5D=30356011\"\u003eCurated Video\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-description'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='short-description'\u003eAJ Muss is just 23 years old, but his has been an eventful life so far. As an alpine snowboarder, AJ qualified for this year's Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea, competing for Team USA— but that's not the only reason we love...\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003cspan class='full-description hide'\u003eAJ Muss is just 23 years old, but his has been an eventful life so far. As an alpine snowboarder, AJ qualified for this year's Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea, competing for Team USA— but that's not the only reason we love his story. We've already seen a number of new young American stars be made on the mountain during these Olympic Games, including fellow snowboarders and gold medalists Chloe Kim and Red Gerard. When AJ competes in the Men's Parallel Giant Slalom beginning later this week, we hope to see him shine as brightly as his teammates have so far.\u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eBecause there was a time when AJ was at risk of never making it out of the hospital, let alone down a mountain at the Olympics. It was his near-death experience that inspired the New Jersey native to become the best snowboarder he could possibly be.\u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eAJ started racing when he was 6 years old. By the time he was in fifth grade, his family moved to Colorado for the winter, so that AJ, who was proving to be a snowboarding prodigy, could compete at a higher level. From the beginning, AJ had one goal: be the best and don't let anybody or anything stand in his way. And he hasn't—even after being close to death.\u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eIn 2014, AJ underwent a routine surgery after suffering tears in his shoulder. But his recovery was the furthest thing from routine. What AJ and his family learned later was that the athlete had developed a life-threatening hole in his heart, called a postoperative pulmonary edema. But in the moment, when his mother found AJ with his eyes rolling back in his head, all they knew was that he needed immediate and drastic help to stay alive. After a complicated transfer to a hospital in Denver, during which he had to be revived after being clinically dead for 30 seconds, AJ was put into a medically induced coma so that doctors could investigate the issues and operate to fix them.\u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eAJ survived this ordeal, thanks to the close attention of his surgeons, but doctors told him he needed further procedures, including heart surgery, which would mean he'd have to give up the thing he loved most: snowboarding. That's where he drew the line. \"Snowboarding is a dream I would never give up,\" says AJ.\u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eDetermination and the support of his family helped AJ make a full recovery, even without the heart surgery, and since then he has clocked some of his best times ever. \"I was a good snowboarder before the incident, but after I became a great snowboarder,\" he says.\u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eAt age 23, AJ is the first and youngest snowboarder to claim EIGHT first-place prizes in the same NOR-AM season, and he's currently ranked in the Top 30 Alpine Snowboarders worldwide! To top it off, the young athlete is about to achieve his life-long dream of competing in the Olympics.\u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eHere's how AJ describes it: \"Being named an Olympian is an honor and pleasure. It's something I've always wanted to be and I'm proud to be named an Olympian.\"\u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eYou can watch this resilient American athlete compete in Men's Parallel Giant Slalom events this week. To see even more from AJ, follow him on Instagram and Facebook.\u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eThis HooplaHa original video was produced by Tracy Chevrier, shot by Sergio Uzurin, and edited by Kellie Sieban.\u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eJoin us in spreading good news. Follow us on hooplaha.com.\u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eHooplaHa is Only Good News. We believe that positivity can change lives and strive to be the voice of humanity that recognizes people are good \u0026 doing good things for mankind. We shine a light on individuals and organizations involved in this movement. Help us celebrate people filled with kindness, those overcoming adversity with grace \u0026 inspiration, and the good in life.\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='action-container flex justify-between'\u003e\n\u003cbutton aria-expanded='false' aria-label='Read more description' class='rp-full-description' type='button'\u003e\n\u003ci class='fai fa-solid fa-align-left'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003cspan id='read_more'\u003eRead More\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/button\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-report'\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-labelledby='resource-details-heading' class='rp-info-section'\u003e\n\u003ch2 class='title' id='resource-details-heading'\u003eResource Details\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-resource-details clearfix'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eCurator Rating\u003c/dt\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003e\u003cspan class=\"star-rating\" aria-label=\"4.0 out of 5 stars\" role=\"img\"\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-solid fa-star text-action\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-solid fa-star text-action\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-solid fa-star text-action\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-solid fa-star text-action\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-regular fa-star text-action\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt class=\"educator-rating-title\"\u003eEducator Rating\u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"educator-rating-details\" data-path=\"/educator_ratings/rrp_data?resourceable_id=91040120\u0026amp;resourceable_type=Boclips%3A%3AVideoMetadata\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"not-yet-rated\"\u003eNot yet Rated\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eMedia Length\u003c/dt\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003e5:53\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eGrade\u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd title=\"Grade\"\u003e3rd - Higher Ed\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eSubjects\u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003ca href=\"/search?grade_ids%5B%5D=259\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=252\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=253\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=254\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=249\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=250\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=251\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=255\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=256\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=257\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=258\u0026amp;search_tab_id=1\u0026amp;subject_ids%5B%5D=358379\"\u003eSocial Studies \u0026amp; History\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/dd\u003e\u003cdd class=\"text-muted\"\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-solid fa-lock mr5\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e3 more...\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eMedia Type\u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003ca href=\"/search?grade_ids%5B%5D=259\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=252\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=253\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=254\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=249\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=250\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=251\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=255\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=256\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=257\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=258\u0026amp;search_tab_id=2\u0026amp;type_ids%5B%5D=4543647\"\u003eInstructional Videos\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eSource:\u003c/dt\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='preview-source' data-animation='true' data-boundary='.rp-info' data-container='.rp-resource-details' data-html='false' data-title='We are the hopeful voice that recognizes people who are doing good for their communities and society. ' data-trigger='hover focus'\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eHooplaha\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fa-solid fa-circle-info channel-tooltip-icon' id='channel-tooltip'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eDate\u003c/dt\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003e2018\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fai fa-solid fa-language'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eLanguage\u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd\u003eEnglish\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eAudiences\u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003ca href=\"/search?audience_ids%5B%5D=371079\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=259\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=252\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=253\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=254\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=249\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=250\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=251\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=255\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=256\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=257\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=258\u0026amp;search_tab_id=1\"\u003eFor Teacher Use\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/dd\u003e\u003cdd class=\"text-muted\"\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-solid fa-lock mr5\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e2 more...\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eUsage Permissions\u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd\u003eFine Print: Educational Use\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-labelledby='additional-materials-heading' class='rp-info-section'\u003e\n\u003ch2 class='title' id='additional-materials-heading'\u003eAdditional Materials\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='additional-material'\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fai fa-solid fa-lock'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003ca class=\"text-muted\" title=\"Video Transcript\" data-html=\"true\" data-placement=\"bottom\" data-trigger=\"click\" data-content=\"\u003cdiv class=\u0026quot;text-center py-2\u0026quot;\u003e\u003ca class=\u0026quot;bold\u0026quot; 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data-posthog-event=\u0026quot;Signup: LP Signup Activity\u0026quot; data-posthog-location=\u0026quot;body_link_boclips\u0026quot; data-remote=\u0026quot;true\u0026quot; href=\u0026quot;/subscription/new\u0026quot;\u003eJoin Now\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\" data-title=\"Get Full Access\" data-container=\"body\" rel=\"popover\" tabindex=\"0\" href=\"/subscription/new\"\u003eVideo Preview\u003c/a\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-labelledby='concepts-heading' class='rp-info-section'\u003e\n\u003ch2 class='title' id='concepts-heading'\u003eConcepts\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='clearfix'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='details-list concepts' data-identifier='Boclips::VideoDecorator6878e30f68f2517d6787667e' data-type='concepts'\u003ecolorado, sports, family, snowboarding, lungs\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='concepts-toggle-buttons' data-identifier='Boclips::VideoDecorator6878e30f68f2517d6787667e'\u003e\n\u003cbutton aria-expanded='false' class='more btn-link' type='button'\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eShow More\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fa-solid fa-caret-down ml5'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003c/button\u003e\n\u003cbutton aria-expanded='true' class='less btn-link' style='display: none;' type='button'\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eShow Less\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fa-solid fa-caret-up ml5'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003c/button\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-labelledby='additional-tags-heading' class='rp-info-section'\u003e\n\u003ch2 class='title' id='additional-tags-heading'\u003eAdditional Tags\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='clearfix'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='details-list keyterms' data-identifier='Boclips::VideoDecorator6878e30f68f2517d6787667e' data-type='keyterms'\u003eolympics, athlete, inspiring kids \u0026amp; family, overcoming adversity, inspiring, inspirational, inspiration, inspiring athletes, heart surgery, inspire, snowboarder, alpine skiing, giant slalom, videoelephant, surgery, incident, shoulder, heart, drive, season, hole, back, head, give, pills, system\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='keyterms-toggle-buttons' data-identifier='Boclips::VideoDecorator6878e30f68f2517d6787667e'\u003e\n\u003cbutton aria-expanded='false' class='more btn-link' type='button'\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eShow More\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fa-solid fa-caret-down ml5'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003c/button\u003e\n\u003cbutton aria-expanded='true' class='less btn-link' style='display: none;' type='button'\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eShow Less\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fa-solid fa-caret-up ml5'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003c/button\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-labelledby='classroom-considerations-heading' class='rp-info-section'\u003e\n\u003ch2 class='title' id='classroom-considerations-heading'\u003eClassroom Considerations\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='classroom-considerations'\u003e\u003cdiv class='fai fa-solid fa-bell'\u003e\u003c/div\u003eVideo is ad-free\u003c/div\u003e \n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-labelledby='educator-ratings-heading' class='rp-info-section'\u003e\n\u003ch2 class='title sr-only' id='educator-ratings-heading'\u003eEducator Ratings\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"educator-ratings-root\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"all-educator-ratings-root\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"educator-rating-form-root\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-resource'\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-label='Show resource details' class='rp-show-info' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\n\u003ci class='fai fa-solid fa-align-left'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\nShow resource details\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-label='Video player' class='player' id='player-wrapper' role='region'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='relative container mx-auto' id='lp-boclips-visitor-thumbnail'\u003e\n\u003ca class=\"block\" data-html=\"true\" data-placement=\"bottom\" data-trigger=\"click\" data-content=\"\u003cdiv class=\u0026quot;text-center py-2\u0026quot;\u003e\u003ca class=\u0026quot;bold\u0026quot; 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