Max Parrot, the Canadian snowboarder who won a silver medal in slopestyle at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, has disclosed that he has been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. The 24-year-old athlete from Bromont, Quebec shared this news with the snowboarding community and the world on Thursday.
After undergoing a biopsy, Parrot received the cancer diagnosis on December 21st, just ten days later. As a five-time X Games champion, Parrot has decided to sit out the entire season, including the upcoming world championships in February, the X Games, and the World Cup circuit, in order to prioritize his health. His last major competition saw him finish in second place in big air in November 2018 in Beijing.
Parrot first noticed symptoms in the fall when he began experiencing persistent skin itching. By November, he discovered a lump on his neck and a swollen gland, prompting him to seek medical attention. Following a biopsy, he received the Hodgkin’s lymphoma diagnosis a few days before the holiday season.
Coming to terms with his diagnosis has been difficult for Parrot, especially as it meant prematurely ending his season, breaking his streak of seven years without missing a competition. He expressed that staying home during the upcoming months, a period when he typically travels extensively, will pose a significant challenge for him.
