U.S. freeski star Colby Stevenson is on the verge of making history again, nearly a decade after a life-threatening accident almost ended his career—and his life.
At 28, Stevenson is competing for a final spot on the U.S. men’s ski team for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Livigno, Italy. His performance at the FIS Freeski World Cup in Switzerland this week was crucial. A strong showing in the qualifying round secured him a place in the finals, where another top result could guarantee his Olympic berth.
“After everything I’ve been through, I have nothing to lose,” Stevenson told NBC News. “I should be dead right now.”
His words reference a devastating car crash in May 2016. Driving home from a freeski event in Oregon, Stevenson’s truck veered off the road in Idaho, flipping eight times. He suffered a shattered skull in more than 30 places and severe brain trauma, landing in a medically induced coma for five days. His passenger escaped with minor injuries.
Recovering from the accident was a grueling journey. Stevenson lost significant muscle mass, struggled with vertigo, and battled severe memory and cognitive issues. He recalls the dark days of staring at his scarred reflection and feeling as though the life he loved was gone.
Support from his family, especially his grandmother, proved pivotal. Simple activities like short walks and card games gradually restored his sense of joy and purpose. Within five months, Stevenson returned to skiing, performing a double cork 1080—a complex trick—to reassure himself that he could continue competing.
By 2017, Stevenson was back on the World Cup circuit. A victorious run in the Italian Alps marked a turning point, demonstrating that his competitive fire remained intact. In 2022, he earned a spot on the U.S. Olympic team for Beijing. While he placed seventh in his main event, slopestyle, he captured silver in Big Air with a groundbreaking “nose butter” triple cork 1620 Japan grab—a trick he had never attempted in competition.
Now, as he eyes a return to the Olympic podium, Stevenson is thriving both on and off the slopes. He has embraced a more open, present approach to life, appreciating small moments and valuing personal connections more deeply. He attributes this perspective directly to surviving the crash.
“In these last nine years, I’ve lived the most incredible life because of what I learned from that accident,” Stevenson said. “It just brought so much more love into my life. Honestly, it was the best thing that ever happened to me.”
With two confirmed teammates—Alex Hall and Troy Podmilsak—and Mac Forehand likely to join them, Stevenson is competing fiercely for the fourth and final U.S. Olympic spot. A strong performance in the upcoming World Cup finals could cement his return to the Olympic stage.
