who won a gold medal with a broken neck
Kurt Angle
Angle faced further hardships while taking part in the 1996 Olympic Trials , when he suffered a severe neck injury , fracturing two of his cervical vertebrae , herniating two discs , and pulling four muscles . Nonetheless , Angle won the trials and then spent the subsequent five months resting and rehabilitating . By the Olympics , Angle was able to compete , albeit with several pain - reducing injections in his neck . In the fall of 1996 , Angle stated that he temporarily became addicted to the analgesic Vicodin after injuring his neck . He won his gold medal in the heavyweight ( 90 -- 100 kg ; 198 -- 220 lb ) weight class despite his injury , defeating the Iranian Abbas Jadidi by officials ' decision after the competitors wrestled to an eight - minute , one - one draw . The bout saw Jadidi earn a point after two minutes and 42 seconds by turning Angle , and Angle earning a point of his own with a takedown after three minutes and four seconds . The officials ' decision was protested by Jadidi . Angle dedicated the victory to Schultz 's honor . 
Angle faced further hardships while taking part in the 1996 Olympic Trials , when he suffered a severe neck injury , fracturing two of his cervical vertebrae , herniating two discs , and pulling four muscles . Nonetheless , Angle won the trials and then spent the subsequent five months resting and rehabilitating . By the Olympics , Angle was able to compete , albeit with several pain - reducing injections in his neck . In the fall of 1996 , Angle stated that he temporarily became addicted to the analgesic Vicodin after injuring his neck . He won his gold medal in the heavyweight ( 90 -- 100 kg ; 198 -- 220 lb ) weight class despite his injury , defeating the Iranian Abbas Jadidi by officials ' decision after the competitors wrestled to an eight - minute , one - one draw . The bout saw Jadidi earn a point after two minutes and 42 seconds by turning Angle , and Angle earning a point of his own with a takedown after three minutes and four seconds . The officials ' decision was protested by Jadidi . Angle dedicated the victory to Schultz 's honor .
Kurt Angle suffered a severe neck injury in the 1996 Olympic Trials, fracturing two of his cervical vertebrae. He won his gold medal in the heavyweight class despite his injury.
Angle faced further hardships while taking part in the 1996 Olympic Trials , when he suffered a severe neck injury , fracturing two of his cervical vertebrae , herniating two discs , and pulling four muscles . He won his gold medal in the heavyweight ( 90 -- 100 kg ; 198 -- 220 lb ) weight class despite his injury , defeating the Iranian Abbas Jadidi by officials ' decision after the competitors wrestled to an eight - minute , one - one draw .
Kurt Angle, who suffered a severe neck injury, fracturing two of his cervical vertebrae, won a gold medal despite his injury.
Angle faced further hardships while taking part in the 1996 Olympic Trials , when he suffered a severe neck injury , fracturing two of his cervical vertebrae , herniating two discs , and pulling four muscles . He won his gold medal in the heavyweight ( 90 -- 100 kg ; 198 -- 220 lb ) weight class despite his injury , defeating the Iranian Abbas Jadidi by officials ' decision after the competitors wrestled to an eight - minute , one - one draw .