Billions saw Cliff Meidl’s sports comeback when the American kayaker led Team USA at the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympic Games in Sydney. His story of how he survived a near-death accident when he was 20 touched many hearts.
Cliff nearly died when he was operating a jackhammer on a construction site in 1986 and contacted three live electrical cables. He went into cardiac arrest, sustained major burns over 15 percent of his body and had damage to both knees with 30 percent of each knee compartment disintegrated.
After treatment and partial recovery, an UCLA Medical Center plastic surgeon developed an innovative procedure that saved Cliff’s legs.
He worked for 10 years to achieve the dream of marching in the Opening Ceremonies of the Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta as a USA Olympic Kayaking Team member. He competed again in Sydney, this time chosen to carry the flag during the march into the stadium. Cliff was also selected as one of the 20 all-time inspirational Olympians for the “Olympian Heroes Series.” He speaks on issues of safety, inspiration, motivation and overcoming adversity.
