US Olympic Team Member from Coma to the Slopes

In April 2014, after a rare reaction to shoulder surgery stopped his heart, A.J. Muss spent two weeks in a medically induced coma. He was on life support. Now he’s an Olympian. A.J.  made the United States snowboarding team for next month’s Winter Games in South Korea. The Olympics always feature compelling personal stories, but Muss’ recovery from death’s doorstep is hard to top. The trauma damaged his brain and he had to re-learn how to read and write, and his memory remains spotty  but gave him uncommon perspective. A.J. said, “Coming out of a coma, it’s life-changing,” It’s honestly made me a better athlete. I know life can be taken from me at any time, so I go at it with everything I have.”