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Max Parrot

Maxence "Max" Parrot (born June 6, 1994) is a Canadian professional snowboarder specializing in and events. A pioneer in freestyle , he is renowned for innovating complex tricks, securing multiple medals, and demonstrating extraordinary resilience by returning to elite competition after battling Hodgkin's . Born in near the Bromont Ski Area, Parrot began skiing at age two, influenced by his father, a competitive and water skier, before switching to at age nine after saving money from mowing lawns to buy his first board. He trained diligently at Bromont's snow park and made his professional debut at age 16, earning a third-place finish at the St-Sauveur Shakedown event. Parrot quickly rose to prominence, achieving his first FIS podium in in 2012 and becoming the first athlete to land a backside triple cork in 2013, followed by pioneering consecutive triple jumps in 2014, a switch quadruple in 2015, and a switch quadruple underflip in 2017 at the . These innovations, along with eight gold medals (two in and six in ) and eight victories, have solidified his status as a trailblazer in the sport. Parrot's Olympic journey began with a fifth-place finish in slopestyle at the 2014 Sochi Games, followed by a in the same event at PyeongChang 2018. In December 2018, shortly after his Olympic success, he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma and underwent 12 rounds of , completing treatment by mid-2019. Defying expectations, Parrot resumed training soon after and made a stunning comeback, winning gold at Norway just two months post-treatment and securing gold at Aspen in 2020. At the 2022 Winter Olympics, he claimed gold in and bronze in , becoming a three-time Olympic medalist in 2022, just over three years after his cancer . Since the 2022 Olympics, Parrot has taken a break from competition to focus on family life, including fatherhood, but has not officially retired as of 2025.

Early life

Family background

Maxence "Max" Parrot was born on June 6, 1994, in , , , a town located near the Bromont ski area, which provided an early connection to environments. His father, Alain Parrot, was a former alpine ski racer and Canadian water ski jump champion whose own athletic background fostered a household deeply immersed in outdoor activities and sports. Alain actively encouraged his children to engage in physical pursuits, instilling a passion for competition from a young age. Parrot grew up in a sports-oriented family that prioritized education alongside athletic development, with his parents insisting he complete high school before pursuing international professional opportunities in sports. This foundational support from his family shaped his disciplined approach to athletics, emphasizing balance and long-term commitment. While siblings and extended family members have not been prominently highlighted in public accounts, the core familial emphasis on perseverance and education remained a key influence on Parrot's early mindset. Alain's legacy as an athlete briefly inspired Parrot's own drive toward excellence.

Introduction to snowboarding

Max Parrot's introduction to began at a young age, shaped by his family's athletic heritage and their proximity to the Bromont ski area in , . Growing up near this renowned resort, which offered easy access to slopes and facilities, Parrot started skiing when he was two years old. His father's background as an alpine ski racer and Canadian water ski jump champion provided initial access to equipment and encouragement for outdoor activities. At around age nine, Parrot transitioned from to , a switch that ignited his passion for the sport. He bought his first by saving money from mowing lawns for a year, as his parents required him to fund it himself due to safety concerns. The local terrain at Bromont, including its well-developed snow parks, allowed him to quickly progress, honing his skills through natural talent and frequent practice. He spent evenings after school riding jumps and rails, building foundational techniques in that emphasized creativity and technical precision. Parrot's early dedication was balanced by his parents' stipulation that he maintain his alongside and local competitions. This regimen involved attending school during the day and competing in regional events on weekends, ensuring academic progress before pursuing full-time. At age 16, following a third-place finish at the St-Sauveur Shakedown event, he turned professional, marking the culmination of his amateur development.

Snowboarding career

Early professional achievements

Max Parrot turned professional in snowboarding at the age of 16 in 2011, quickly establishing himself through competitive performances on the World Snowboard Tour. His breakthrough came in 2012 when he earned his first FIS World Cup medal, a bronze in slopestyle at the event in Stoneham, Quebec. At the 2013 Winter X Games in Aspen, Parrot, then an 18-year-old rookie, secured silver in men's slopestyle with a score of 90.00, highlighted by his pioneering backside triple cork as the first of its kind in an X Games slopestyle event. This performance not only marked his first major international medal but also showcased his innovative approach to aerial maneuvers. In 2014, Parrot achieved further recognition by becoming the World Snowboard Tour Overall Champion, solidifying his reputation in the discipline. At the Winter Aspen that year, he claimed gold in both and . His run featured the first consecutive jumps in competition history, including a switch backside 1440 followed by a frontside 1440, earning a winning score of 96.33. Representing Canada at the in , Parrot finished fifth in with a best score of 87.25, gaining valuable experience on snowboarding's biggest stage despite not medaling. Parrot continued his ascent with consistent success in from 2015 to 2017. He took silver at the 2015 Aspen event, followed by another silver in in 2016 before winning gold at Aspen that same year with the debut of his cab 1800 triple cork, a five-rotation trick that scored him 74 points overall. In 2017, he earned silver in and gold in Aspen, where his switch triple cork 1800 and frontside triple cork 1440 secured a 75-point victory. These medals underscored Parrot's dominance and trick evolution in during his early professional years.

Olympic and major international successes

Max Parrot has competed in three Winter Olympics, establishing himself as a prominent figure in men's snowboard slopestyle and big air disciplines. His Olympic journey began at the 2014 Sochi Games, where he debuted but did not medal, building experience that led to his breakthrough performances in subsequent editions. At the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, Parrot secured a silver medal in the men's snowboard slopestyle event, marking Canada's first medal of those Games. Despite suffering a heavy fall during his second run that left him briefly unconscious, his helmet protected him from serious injury, allowing him to complete a strong third run scoring 89.00 for the silver behind Norway's Øystein Bråten. Parrot continued his international success at the 2021 FIS Freestyle Ski and Snowboard World Championships in , where he earned a in men's with a score of 92.25 on his final run, featuring a frontside triple cork 1620 weddle. Parrot's pinnacle came at the 2022 , where he won gold in men's with a score of 90.50 on his second run, redeeming his 2018 silver and becoming the first Canadian man to win slopestyle gold. He also claimed bronze in men's , scoring 83.00 on his best run, which solidified his status as a three-time medalist across slopestyle and . Following the Beijing Games, Parrot earned a in men's at the 2022 Winter in Aspen with a top score of 81.00. However, he has not competed in major international events since then, opting for a break during the 2022-2023 season to focus on family while continuing to train. As of November 2025, Parrot has not returned to competition and has not announced , leaving open the possibility of future participation.

X Games dominance and trick innovations

Max Parrot has established himself as one of the most dominant athletes in history, amassing a total of 14 medals across and disciplines. His haul includes 8 golds—2 in and 6 in —along with 6 silvers, making him the most awarded athlete in history. Parrot's breakthrough came at X Games Aspen 2014, where, at age 19, he swept gold in both Men's Snowboard Slopestyle and Big Air. He followed with silvers in Big Air at X Games Oslo 2016 and Aspen 2015, before securing consecutive Big Air golds at Aspen in 2016 and 2017. Additional highlights include Big Air golds at Aspen 2018 and Oslo 2019, silver in Big Air and gold in slopestyle at X Games Norway 2020, and a Big Air silver at Aspen 2022, rounding out his medal collection. Parrot's technical prowess has driven significant innovations in snowboarding tricks, particularly in high-rotation and corks. In 2015, he landed the world's first Quadruple Underflip 1620 at , a four-rotation flip with an off-axis underflip that pushed the limits of aerial maneuvers. He brought this progression to competition by incorporating consistent triple corks and the first 1800 Triple Cork at X Games Aspen 2016, earning gold with the latter—a five-rotation triple cork executed cab (switch backside). These feats, including his signature backside triple cork 1620 with grab, became staples in his runs, such as during his 2020 victory. Following his cancer diagnosis and treatment in 2018-2019, Parrot made a triumphant return at 2019, clinching gold in his first competition post-recovery, followed by another gold at Aspen 2020 with a score of 95.00, highlighted by a cab 1800 triple cork and backside triple cork 1620. This performance not only reaffirmed his dominance but also elevated the sport's standards, as his pioneering tricks like the backside triple cork mute have inspired subsequent generations to attempt higher rotations and more complex combinations in and events.

Health challenges

Cancer diagnosis and treatment

Shortly after winning a silver medal in slopestyle at the in Pyeongchang, Max Parrot began experiencing symptoms that led to his . In September 2018, he noticed persistent itching and skin scratching, followed in November by a noticeable bump and swollen gland on his neck, which he initially attributed to a minor illness. These signs prompted a visit to his family doctor, who recommended a on December 11, 2018, confirming the of —a rare blood cancer affecting the —on December 21, 2018. Parrot publicly announced his diagnosis on January 17, 2019, in , emphasizing his determination to fight the disease while highlighting its rarity, with approximately 900 annual cases in . The announcement detailed how the symptoms had progressed from fatigue and unexplained itching to the visible lump, underscoring the importance of early detection through medical testing. Treatment commenced promptly with Parrot's first session on January 10, 2019, followed by 11 more bi-weekly infusions over six months, concluding in June 2019. The regimen, designed by his medical team, aimed for full remission, which was achieved as confirmed by a subsequent body scan. Side effects were significant, including severe that left him increasingly drained and toward the end of , as well as , , , and physical weakness that prevented sports activities—such as laps that exhausted him after just two attempts. Emotionally, the process brought shock and strain, with initial fears centered on the potential end of his career, though Parrot later reflected on how it shifted his perspective toward greater life balance. Throughout the treatment, Parrot relied on a robust support system comprising his family, friends, sponsors, and a dedicated medical team that included doctors, nurses, a sports psychologist, , and gym coach. This network provided emotional and practical encouragement, helping him maintain some level of activity as advised by his physician. During this period, he also began awareness initiatives by partnering with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of to raise funds and educate others about blood cancers, sharing his journey openly on to inspire those facing similar challenges. The diagnosis and treatment forced an immediate interruption to Parrot's professional career, causing him to miss the remainder of the 2018-2019 season, including the in February 2019 and the in late January 2019, where he had been a three-time defending champion.

Recovery and return to competition

Following his completion of 12 sessions, Max Parrot was declared cancer-free on July 8, 2019, and immediately shifted his focus to rebuilding physical strength through structured gym workouts and progressive training. In public statements, Parrot has described how the cancer experience profoundly reshaped his priorities, fostering a deeper sense of gratitude and a renewed perspective on life's value beyond competitive success. Parrot made a swift return to competition at Norway on August 31, 2019, capturing gold in just weeks after resuming full training. He followed this with another gold at Aspen in January 2020, continuing his strong comeback after the Norway victory. As of November 2025, Parrot has experienced no recurrence of cancer. His recovery journey inspired the 2022 documentary Max - Life as a Gold Medal, which chronicles his physical and emotional rehabilitation. After securing gold and bronze medals at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, Parrot opted to step back from competitive events during the 2022-2023 season and has since prioritized family life and personal training without issuing an official retirement announcement. As of 2025, Parrot remains cancer-free and has embraced fatherhood, becoming the father of two sons, Blake and Louka, further reflecting the life balance gained from his experience.

Personal life

Family and relationships

Max Parrot became engaged to Kayla Thibault in early 2022, having met her the previous year amid his ongoing professional career. Thibault offered crucial emotional support as Parrot prepared for and competed in the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, including penning a heartfelt letter he read after securing gold in . The couple welcomed their first son, Blake, in May 2022, followed by their second son, Louka, in December 2023. This milestone marked the start of Parrot's emphasis on fatherhood in his post-Olympic life, prompting him to sit out the 2022-23 snowboarding season to prioritize time with his newborn and family. Parrot has described this period as transformative, allowing him to focus on being a dedicated parent while reflecting on his journey. Parrot's battle with Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2018-2019 reshaped his outlook, fostering a deeper appreciation for personal relationships and family as core priorities over competitive demands. His fiancée's support during his recovery and return to elite sports underscored this shift, reinforcing the role of close bonds in sustaining his resilience. As of 2025, Parrot has continued to take a break from competitions since the 2022 Olympics, balancing training with family commitments and viewing fatherhood as a grounding force in his life.

Interests and philanthropy

Beyond his professional snowboarding career, Max Parrot pursues a variety of outdoor and recreational activities to maintain balance and fitness. He enjoys and during the summer months, along with , , and , which help him stay active off the snow. Parrot also incorporates music into his travels, carrying a small guitar to practice and eventually master playing a larger one he won at the . Parrot is affectionately known by the nicknames "Garçon," meaning "boy" in , or "The Kid," reflecting his youthful energy and early entry into professional . His personal , "Wish it, Dream it, Do it," encapsulates his approach to overcoming challenges and pursuing goals with . Following his 2018 diagnosis with , Parrot has become a prominent advocate for cancer awareness, serving as a spokesperson for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of (LLSC) to promote blood and support survivors. In a commitment to , he pledged to donate $1,000 to the LLSC for each victory on the competition circuit, using his successes to accelerate treatments and improve survival rates for patients. Parrot extended his advocacy through the 2022 documentary Max - Life as a Gold Medal, which chronicles his cancer battle, treatment, and return to elite competition, aiming to inspire others facing similar diagnoses while raising funds for cancer research initiatives. The film highlights his resilience and emphasizes the importance of perseverance, with proceeds directed toward supporting medical advancements in oncology. After achieving Olympic gold at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games, Parrot took a break from full-time competition starting in the 2022-2023 season, allowing more time to explore his personal interests and family life. This period has enabled him to deepen engagement in hobbies like golf and music, fostering a renewed appreciation for non-athletic pursuits. As of 2025, he has not returned to elite competitions.

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