ASPEN, Colo.- It's only been a month since Olympic snowboarder Chris Klug (Aspen, CO)received a new liver, but he is already back at home and doing things many would deem impossible this soon after major surgery.

Klug underwent a successful liver transplant on July 28 at Denver's University of Colorado Hospital, a six-hour procedure. Five years ago, he was diagnosed with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC), a rare liver disease that attacks the bile ducts and has no known cause. It affects just one out of every 10,000 people in the U.S., mostly young men. In late June, Klug's condition worsened and he was elevated to the highest level on the donor list. He and his family finally got the call on July 27 to come down to Denver - they had found an acceptable donor.

After a short stay in recovery at the hospital, Klug moved into the Holtze Hotel in downtown Denver in order to be near the specialists that monitored the new liver and his body for possible rejection. On Thursday, Aug. 17, doctors gave Klug the go-ahead and he packed up and returned to Aspen.

Klug has been doing light workouts and riding a lot of stationary bike since returning home. He has also returned to mountain biking and hiking his favorite spots and even attended a Denver Broncos game on Aug. 19 with his girlfriend, Missy. Not surprising coming from an athlete that was waterskiing the day before his transplant.

A September snowboard camp on Mt. Hood in Oregon is in Klug's sights. The '98 Olympian and reigning U.S. giant slalom champion doesn't plan on missing any time on the World Cup tour this year. Klug is stoked to get on snow (and in the water to surf) and continue his journey towards the 2002 Olympic Games in Salt Lake City.

— Courtesy US Ski and Snowboard Association News Bureau