Glen Christiansen Falls And Is Getting Back Up
Swimmers Daily reported some incredibly sad – and hopeful – news about Olympic pool swimmer and open water swimmer Glen Christiansen.Christiansen, one of the most enthusiastic, passionate and knowledgeable swimmers we have ever had the honor to meet, is recovering from near-fatal injury and a medically-induced coma for 3 weeks.
According to Swimmers Daily, Christiansen fell down a flight of stairs and split his skull from ear to ear. Doctors gave the personable swimming guru only a 30% chance to live with a significant possibility to become mentally incapacitated.
But like many things in his remarkable life, Christiansen made an incredulous recovery from paralysis on his left side and the inability to speak and is, beyond comprehension and explanation, expected back on the pool deck and seashore in his future.
Christiansen says, “I will get well, but I must take it step-by-step with patience. This is a challenge for me. I am lucky. I survived due to my physical fitness and my willpower, fighting spirit – so the doctors say. As I woke up after the coma, my first thought went to my little son Noe. I knew that I MUST win this one. I have a long way to go, but I find the strength.”
A true hero fighting back.
Copyright © 2013 by Open Water Swimming
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.
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