Freestyle skiing: "I'm not a hothead," says Kevin Rolland

"I think that apart from the ankles, which are well locked in the shoes, I shot myself everywhere ..." Kevin Rolland, 31, prefers to laugh.

Man is, however, a miracle.

On May 2, 2019, the freestyler from La Plagne almost lost his life in a terrible fall of nearly twelve meters during a quarter-pipe world record attempt.

Fracture of the pelvis, lungs, ribs and pancreas affected… A hell of a medical record and a long period of bed rest.

A year and a half later, the bronze medalist in halfpipe ski at the Sochi Olympics is fully back.

Ready to start at the beginning of March at the Worlds if the international federation finds a fallback solution after the withdrawal this Wednesday from Calgary (Can).

"I am able to do the tricks before"

Rolland, it is he was a faith.

Already doing acrobatics in his head nailed to his hospital bed.

“I was not very psychologist with my girlfriend, he laughs.

The first thing I said after coming out of the coma was:

ok, I'm going to come back to the highest level!

She had just given birth on her own and it was difficult for the pill to pass!

But she supports me 100%.

She knows I'm not a hothead.

And anyway, it was out of the question to end my career on the verge of death in a helicopter… ”

Freestyle ski worlds: Kevin Rolland wins silver #skifreestyle pic.twitter.com/ExCbqol7Yc

- All Sport (@toutlesport) February 10, 2019

From rehabilitation, this born competitor plays the gold medal.

The doctor who follows him has never seen a patient with similar trauma recover so quickly.

“I already had the impression of having won a competition,” he analyzes.

So I wasn't hallucinating or convincing myself.

Maybe it was really possible… I was incredibly lucky.

After that, there is also a lot of work.

I left nothing to chance.

"

Rolland took his time.

Closely monitored medically, he relearned the basics of his sport.

Without toasting the steps.

“It was really very gradual,” he says.

Doubts had to be overcome.

A neurosurgeon told me:

if you're too scared, stop.

Me, I've always been afraid, which prevents you from doing anything.

But this must not paralyze.

I have known a lot of freestylers who quit because of this.

They couldn't manage anymore.

Honestly, it was not easy to go back.

So I started with a simple back flip and did the whole route from age six to today.

And I am now able to do the tricks before.

"

"If I am told that I am in danger, I stop"

By doing everything not to break his ... No question, indeed, of taking the slightest reckless risk.

"If I am told that I am in danger, I stop," he breathes a few hours before an appointment to have his cervicals checked.

But today it is not relevant.

In any case, for example, I would never do again at the Beijing Olympics

(Editor's note: in 2022)

what I did in Pyeongchang.

"

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The shoulder loose before the competition then crippled with injuries after a bowl in training, the 2009 world champion still wanted to jump higher than the pain.

“Everyone said I was crazy but I do not regret anything, loose the multiple winner of the X-Games.

I remain convinced that there was a small chance of a medal.

I just had to take the first jump.

But I fell three times and I crashed in front of the whole world.

The disaster scenario… ”

Whether with Chinese rings or on another international competition, Rolland cannot imagine hanging up the skis anywhere other than at the top of a podium.

"I have nothing more to prove to anyone," explains the next "double" dad, who is preparing between Leyzin (Sui) and Albertville.

I really do it for myself, while giving more importance to my feelings.

I want to win.

But the “at all costs” no longer exists.

"