Skier Jean-Claude Killy
During World War II, the Killy family, including Jean-Claude, was displaced and eventually settled in the Alps. The family lived frugally in the mountains, where his father had set up a ski store. Jean-Claude left school to support his father and rapidly picked up the sport of skiing thanks to his free time as a teenager. He quickly rose to prominence as a ski racer, and by 1968 he had won three gold medals. His subsequent two world titles established him as a dominant figure in the 1960s. Now retired, he is well-known for his friendship with Vladimir Putin, president of Russia.
M. Rulon Gardner
Former American Greco-Roman wrestler Rulon Gardner won a gold medal at the Olympic Games in 2000. He raced again in 2004 and earned the bronze medal, although he has faced greater adversity away from the sport, such as tumbling off his snowmobile into a frigid river. When he suffered severe frostbite in 2002, he lost the middle toe on his right foot, but he quickly made a comeback in sports. As a child, he struggled with a learning handicap, and now he uses his experiences to inspire others. In 2007, he was in a plane crash, but he emerged unscathed. After losing almost 170 pounds on the Biggest Loser in 2011, he decided to leave the competition for personal reasons.