Portland, OR (Monday, May 23, 2005) - Bill Johnson was never one to find the easiest way down the mountain. He was the fastest downhill skier in the world at the 1984 Winter Olympic Games in Sarajevo. Johnson gained as much notoriety for his brash and outrageous actions as he did for being the first skier from the United States to win a gold medal in downhill skiing. The United States had never won the gold and 1984 was a time when the United States continued to hold little hope for winning. Along came the bad boy of skiing, making headlines by stating that he didn't know why the other racers had bothered showing up because they would be "racing for second place."

Johnson delivered on his promise. There were movies (Going For The Gold with Anthony Edwards), book deals, and endorsements. Post-gold medal life, however, was challenging and Johnson suffered tremendous trauma as one of his children drowned in an accident and his marriage failed. He found resolve by becoming competitive again and set out to win another gold medal at the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City. His harsh life lessons continued, however, as he suffered a horrific and tragic accident. During Bill’s attempted comeback at the U.S. Alpine Championships in Whitefish, Montana in 2001, he suffered a traumatic brain injury while traveling 58 m.p.h. Johnson was in a coma for three weeks and lost six years of memories.

Johnson has experienced many negative challenges as a result of his injuries. There has been immense pain, and he has lost most of his memory from a six-year period. The surgery on his severed tongue has affected his speech. Johnson gets confused, frustrated and angry from time to time. These challenges even included public embarrassment as he was pulled over on suspicion of drunken driving. Johnson became confused and frustrated and was arrested and jailed for assault. The police thought he was drunk because of his the effects of his brain injury on his speech and behavior, says a family spokesperson. Subsequent tests showed no alcohol in Johnson's system. The story of the arrest and Bill’s actions were grossly misreported and caused damage to Bill and his family according to the spokesperson.

Johnson has just returned to his Oregon home from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and The Center for Sports Medicine. The doctors in Pittsburgh feel there may be more options to increase the health and quality of life he should be experiencing. They are reviewing results of a comprehensive evaluation that took place over several days last week.

Dr. Joseph Maroon, Vice Chairman and Professor of the Department of Neurological Surgery and Dr. Mark Lovell, a nationally renowned sports concussion researcher lead the medical team in Pittsburgh. Lovell oversees the neuropsychological testing programs for the National Football League (NFL) and the National Hockey League (NHL) and directs the concussion testing for Championship Auto Racing Teams and the Indianapolis Racing League. He is chairman of the NHL’s Neuropsychology Advisory Board. Maroon has been the team neurosurgeon for the Pittsburgh Steelers Football Club for the past 20 years and has developed innovated programs for the management of athletes with cerebral concussions. ImPACT© (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing) was developed by Drs. Maroon and Lovell. It is the first computerized evaluation system used that may help determine concussion severity.

The purpose of Johnson's visit was to undergo extensive comprehensive evaluations and testing. Johnson's goal of working with the Pittsburgh medical team is to overcome some of the difficulties he has experienced and to improve his quality of life.

“There will be an extended strategy and care plan developed," says the Johnson family spokesperson. "Bill, his family and the medical team are all hopeful that improvements are possible and will be realized. This is the next logical step in the long and extended process of recovery of traumatic brain injury. While Bill has been able to work, travel and attend events around the world as a spokesperson for traumatic brain injury and other groups and organizations, there is still more work to do for Bill to improve his life.”