>>> TONIGHT ON "60 MINUTES" PRESENTS, STORIES THAT INSPIRE. >> HOW DO YOU DEFINE HERO? >> WE DEFINE IT, AT LEAST IN
TERMS OF OUR REQUIREMENT, IS A MAN OR WOMAN THAT WILLINGLY AND KNOWINGLY RISKS THEIR LIFE TO AN EXTRAORDINARY DEGREE TO SAVE OR
ATTEMPT TO SAVE THE LIFE OF ANOTHER HUMAN BEING. >> THOUSANDS HAVE BEEN AWARDED THE CARNEGIE HERO MEDAL, ALONG
WITH A $5500 PRIZE. WE WONDERED WHY SOME PEOPLE ARE HEROIC, SO WE WENT TO GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY TO SEE THE
NEUROSCIENCE FOR OURSELVES. ♪ ♪ >>> SHE IS A RUSSIAN BALLERINA, ONE OF THE WORLD'S LEADING
DANCERS. BUT DAYS AFTER RUSSIA INVADED UKRAINE, SHE PIROUETTED AND STEPPED OFF THE STAGE WITH
DRAMATIC FLOURISH. >> I WAS SO ASHAMED OF RUSSIA. I'M NOT ASHAMED THAT I'M RUSSIAN, BUT I AM ASHAMED
BECAUSE OF RUSSIA STARTED THIS ACTION. >>> THREE, TWO, ONE -- >> JACOB SMITH DROPS INTO THE
BIG COOL R, A NARROW ROCK WALLED 1400 FOOT CHUTE. THAT DOT IS HIM, MAKING HIS WAY TURN BY TURN.
A WRONG MOVE COULD BE CATASTROPHIC. THE RUN HAS A 50 DEGREE SLOPE, WHICH MEAN IT IS YOU SLIP DOWN,
THERE IS LITTLE CHANCE THAT YOU CAN STOP YOURSELF. WE THOUGHT YOU SHOULD SEE THIS, BECAUSE HE CANNOT.
JACOB IS >>> GOOD EVENING. WELCOME TO "60 MINUTES" PRESENTS.
TONIGHT, STORIES THAT INSPIRE. WE'LL MEET UKRAINIAN DANCERS PURSUING THEIR ART WHILE IN EXILE, AND A TEENAGE SKIER WHO
FLIES DOWNHILL WITHOUT THE AID OF EYESIGHT. BUT WE BEGIN WITH A TALE OF CERTIFIED HEROES.
IN 1904, 180 AMERICANS WERE TRAPPED BY FIRE IN A PENNSYLVANIA COAL MINE. TWO HEROES WENT IN TO SAVE THEM,
BUT THE RESCUERS AND ALL BUT ONE OF THE MINERS PERISHED. STILL, THAT OCTOBER OF HEROISM TOUCHED ONE OF THE MAN'S RICHEST
AMERICANS. ANDREW CARNEGIE DONATED MORE THAN $100 MILLION IN TODAY'S MONEY TO RECOGNIZE HEROS IN THE
U.S. AND CANADA. AS SCOTT PELLEY FIRST REPORTED IN 2021, A GOOD DEAL HAS CHANGED IN 118 YEARS.
THOUSANDS HAVE BEEN AWARDED THE CARNEGIE HERO MEDAL. ADVANCES IN NEUROSCIENCE ARE REVEALING WHY SOME OF US MAY BE
HEROIC. WE'LL GET TO THE SCIENCE, BUT FIRST, MEET SOME OF THE CARNEGIE HEROES, INCLUDING KERRY ANN
THOMAS. >> I REMEMBER THINKING ALMOST INSTANTLY, I'M NOT GOING TO LET SOMEBODY DIE.
>> Reporter: SHE WAS A CIVILIAN, OVERSEEING CONFISCATED PROPERTY AT THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE TOPEKA POLICE DEPARTMENT.
IN 2018, A MAN CAME IN DEMANDING HIS BICYCLE. THOMAS TURNED TO FIND IT. >> AS SOON AS I TURNED AROUND
AND STARTED TO WALK OFF, I HEARD A SCREAM. >> Reporter: THE SCREAM CAME FROM OFFICER TAMMY WALTER.
FOR REASONS WE DON'T KNOW, SHE HAD BEEN ATTACKED BY THE MAN IN THE PROPERTY ROOM WAITING AREA. THOMAS HIT A PANIC ALARM AND
CHARGED OUT OF HER LOCKED ROOM. >> SO AS I RAN OUT THERE, I SAW THERE WAS BLOOD ON THE WALL, AND SHE WAS DOWN.
AND SHE WAS NOT MOVING. AND I WENT OF THERE AND I PULLED HIM OFF OF HER. HE LOOKED AT ME, AND HE PUNCHED
ME IN THE FACE. HE TURNED AROUND AND HE STARTED BACK ON HER. HE'S KICKING HER WHILE SHE'S ON
THE GROUND, AND CONSTANTLY PUNCHING HER. SO I WENT AND GRABBED HIM AGAIN. AND I PULLED HIM OFF.
>> Reporter: HELP WALLS SLOW IN COMING. IT SEEMS AS NO ONE HAD TRIGGERED THE PANIC ALARM BEFORE, SO THE
COPS UPSTAIRS WEREN'T SURE WHAT IT MEANT. >> HE GRABBED SOMETHING OFF OF HER GUN BELT.
I THOUGHT, OKAY, HE HAS HER GUN. THIS WHOLE THING HAS JUST CHANGED. HE HIT THE ELEVATOR BUTTON, AND
HE LOOKED AT ME AND HE SAID, YOU'RE COMING WITH ME. >> Reporter: LATER, IT TURNED OUT IT WAS THE OFFICER'S RADIO
THE MAN HAD, NOT HER GUN. BUT THOMAS DIDN'T KNOW THAT IN THE FIGHT. WHAT HAPPENED THEN?
>> AND SO I PUT MY FOOT IN THE DOOR, IT OPENED UP, AND WITH EVERYTHING I HAD, I GRABBED HIM AND I PULLED HIM OUT OF THE
ELEVATOR. AND JUST AS SOON AS WE GOT OUT, I RAN TO THE DOOR, I OPENED IT, AND I JUST STARTED SCREAMING.
AND THAT'S WHEN ALL THE OFFICERS CAME IN AND TOOK HIM DOWN. >> Reporter: A TOPEKA COP REPORTED THAT STORY TO THE
PITTSBURGH HEADQUARTERS OF THE CARNEGIE HERO FUND COMMISSION. ERIC ZARIN IS PRESIDENT OF THE COMMISSION, A FORMER SECRET
SERVICE AGENT. >> WE LOOK AT UP TO 1,000 CASES A YEAR. WE AWARD JUST A LITTLE OVER 10%
OF THAT. SO IN RECENT YEARS, THAT EQUATES TO ABOUT 80 CASES A YEAR. >> HOW DO YOU DEFINE HERO?
>> WE DEFINE IT, AT LEAST IN TERMS OF OUR MEDAL REWARDING REQUIREMENT, IS A MAN OR WOMAN THAT WILLINGLY RISKS THEIR LIVE
TO SAVE OR ATTEMPT TO SAVE THE LIFE OF ANOTHER HUMAN BEING. >> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS YOUR INVESTIGATORS GO THROUGH?
>> WE WRITE OR CONTACT POLICE DEPARTMENTS, FIRE DEPARTMENTS, THE VICTIM IN THE CASE, WHO WAS THE RESCUE PARTY AND OTHER
EYEWITNESSS TO THE ACT. WE START TO BUILD AN UNDERSTANDING OF EACH CASE. >> AND THIS IS THE MIDEDAL.
>> Reporter: THE MEDAL COMES WITH $5500 AND OTHER FINANCIAL SUPPORT. >> WE ALSO PAY FOR FUNERAL COSTS
FOR A HERO THAT'S KILLED IN THE ACT. WE PAY MEDICAL COSTS FOR ANY INJURY THAT THEY INCUR, TO
INCLUDE THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AFTER EFFECTS, PTSD. WE DON'T PRESENT A MEDAL AND WALK AWAY, WE STAY THERE, AND WE
STAY THERE FOR THE HERO'S LIFETIME. SOMETIMES FAR BEYOND. WE WERE RECENTLY LOOKING AT A
CASE THAT A GENTLEMAN WAS KILLED IN HIS HEROIC ACT AND WE SUPPORTED HIS WIFE AND HIS DAUGHTER FOR 72 YEARS UNTIL HIS
DAUGHTER DIED. >> ON THE BEACH THAT DAY I JUST REACTED. >> Reporter: FEET WAS ON A NORTH
CAROLINA BEACH IN 2015 WHEN SOMEONE POINTED TO A BOY SWEPT AWAY BY A RIP CURRENT. PONCER AND ANOTHER MAN SWAM
ABOUT 150 YARDS. >> WE FOUND THE YOUNG TEENAGER, 13-YEAR-OLD BOY, AND WATER WAS STARTING TO WASH OVER HIS FACE.
>> Reporter: THIS IS THE BOY AFTER THEY SWAM HIM BACK TO SHORE. >> AS WE GET TO THE BEACH, A
CHURCH YOUTH GROUP LEADER COMES OUT AND MEETS WITH US, AND HE SAYS, THANK YOU. THERE'S ANOTHER ONE.
>> Reporter: A SECOND BOY WAS DROWNING. PONCER RAN, BROKE HIS FOOT, IGNORED IT, AND SWAM OUT.
HE EVENTUALLY LOST SIGHT OF THE BOY, BUT THE CHILD WAS PULLED FROM THE WATER BY OTHERS AND FLOWN TO A HOSPITAL.
SO WHY YOU? >> I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT IT. IT'S KIND OF LIKE, IF YOU PUT YOUR HAND ON A HOT STOVE AND
PULL IT BACK RIGHT AWAY WITHOUT THINKING, THAT'S KIND OF WHAT IT WAS LIKE FOR ME. IT JUST NEEDED TO BE DONE AND I
DID IT. >> Reporter: IT WAS THE SAME REACTION FOR DAVID McCARTNEY, WHEN FATE ARRIVED ON A TWO-LANE
ROAD IN INDIANA. >> I WAS HEADING SOUTH, AND THERE WAS A VEHICLE THAT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS GOING A LITTLE BIT
LEFT, A LITTLE BIT RIGHT, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WENT RIGHT AND HIT A CULVERT. >> WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?
>> YOU COULD SEE THE SMOKE AND THEY STARTED TO SCREAM BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS STARTING TO CATCH ON FIRE.
>> Reporter: ELIZABETH TESTERMAN WAS TRAPPED. >> SHE'S IN THERE SCREAMING, THE DASH IS ON FIRE, THE SMOKE IS
GOING THROUGH YOUR NOSE AND YOU'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO NOW. >> Reporter: HE AND ANOTHER MAN
KICKED IN HER WINDSHIELD AND CUT HER SEAT BELT WITH A KNIFE. >> WE PULL HER FEET OUT AND WIGGLE UP THROUGH THAT
WINDSHIELD THAT WAS KICKED OUT. AND THEN WE PULLED HER OVER TO THE GRASS AND LAID HER DOWN. >> Reporter: A MINUTE LATER, HE
TOLD US THE CAR EXPLODED. THAT FEAR OF DYING IN A CAR IS WELL KNOWN TO ABIGAIL MARSH. SHE'S NOT A HERO, BUT SHE WAS
SAVED BY ONE. AT AGE 19, SHE WAS ON AN INTERSTATE AT NIGHT AND SWERVSWERVEL
ED -- SWERVED TO MISS A DOG. SHE WENT INTO A SPIN. >> AND I SPENT SOME AMOUNT OF
TIME, 100% CERTAIN I WAS ABOUT TO DIE. I WAS, YOU KNOW, ANY ONE OF THESE CARS HADN'T SWERVED IN
TIME AND I WOULD HAVE BEEN DEAD. >> WHAT HAPPENED? >> I HEAR A RAP ON THE WINDOW AND I SEE A MAN'S FACE STAIRING
IN THE CAR AND SAID YOU LOOK LIKE YOU COULD USE SOME HELP. >> Reporter: HIS ACT OF HEROISM LED HER TO BECOME DR. AT-BIGAIL
MARSH, A NEUROSCIENCE THAT STUDIES WHAT GETS INTO THE HEADS OF HEROES. AT GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY, SHE'S
PUBLISHED STUDIES ON THE BRAINS OF TWO KINDS OF PEOPLE -- PSYCHOPATHS WHO HAVE NO COMPASSION FOR OTHERS AND PEOPLE
WHO HAVE SO MUCH COMPASSION THAT THEY DONATED A KIDNEY TO A STRANGER. SHE FOUND A DIFFERENCE IN THE
STRUCTURE NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE BRAIN. THEY SUBCONSCIOUSLY RECOGNIZE DANGER AND REACT FASTER THAN
CONSCIOUS THOUGHT. >> ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT WE KNOW THEY DO IS THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR GENERATING THE
EXPERIENCE OF FEAR. WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT THAT IS NOT ONLY IS IT ESSENTIAL FORGIVING YOU THE EXPERIENCE OF
FEAR, IT SEEMS TO ALLOW YOU TO EMPATHIZE WITH OTHER PEOPLE'S FEAR. >> Reporter: AS HER SUBJECTS
WERE SCANNED, MARSH SHOWED THEM EMOTIONAL FACES. >> PEOPLE THAT WERE PSYCHOPATHIC, THEY SHOWED LITTLE
RESPONSE. OTHERS HAD AN EXAGGERATED RESPONSE, WHICH WE THINK MEANS THAT THEY ARE MORE SENSITIVE
THAN MOST PEOPLE TO OTHER'S DISTRESS, BETTER AT INTERPRETING OTHER PEOPLE'S STRESS. >> Reporter: PERHAPS LIKE THE
MAN WHO SAVED HER ON THE FREEWAY. NO TELLING HOW MANY PSYCHOPATHS DROVE PAST YOU.
>> JUST RELAX AND STAY AS STALE AS POSSIBLE. >> Reporter: WE WONDERED WHETHER OUR CARNEGIE HEROES WERE BORN
HEROIC. WAS THERE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR BRAINS? ALL THREE VOLUNTEERED FOR DR.
MARSHA'S SCANS. >> TO MY -- I'M NOT GOING TO LIE, I WAS VERY PLEASED AND GRATIFIED BY WHAT WE FOUND IN
THE HEROIC RESCUERS. JUST LIKE THE KIDNEY DONORS, IT WAS LARGER THAN AVERAGE AND SIGNIFICANTLY MORE RESPONSIVE TO
THE SIGHT OF SOMEBODY ELSE IN DISTRESS DISTRESS, WHICH MAKES SO MUCH SENSE.
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO, WHEN THEY SAW US, THEY WERE TERRIFIED AND THEY DIDN'T JUST SIT THERE. >> THEY HAVE ALL TOLD US THAT
THEY SPRANG INTO ACTION, AS YOU SAY, WITHOUT THINKING. >> YOU DON'T THINK, YOU'RE STRICTLY ACTING.
>> I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT IT. >> I DIDN'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT. >> IT REALLY MAKES SENSE WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT HOW ANCIENT AND
DEEP IN OUR BRAIN STRUCTURES LIKE THIS ARE. I WOULDN'T WANT TO SAY IT'S WHERE ALTRUISM IS, IN THE BRAIN.
BUT WE KNOW THAT IT'S DEFINITELY IN THE CENTRAL LINK IN THAT CHAIN, WHETHER YOU'RE A MOUSE, A RAT, DOG OR HUMAN, IT'S
PERFORMING THE SAME FUNCTIONS IN A REALLY DEEP, FAST, SUBCONSCIOUS LEVEL. >> Reporter: IF THE ACT OF
HEROISM IS A SPRINT, THE CONSEQUENCES ARE A MARATHON. FOR DAVID McCARTNEY, IT WAS FOR THE BETTER.
HE'S THE FIRST TO ADMIT HE WASN'T A GOOD MAN. IN THE PAST, HE HAD PLEADED GUILTY TO BATTERY.
BUT HE PROMISED THE PROM HE PULLED FROM THE BURNING CAR THAT HE WOULD DO GOOD, AND IN 2019, HE DONATED A KIDNEY.
>> WHO DID THE KIDNEY GO TO? >> NO CLUE. >> Reporter: ON THE OTHER HAND, FOR TERRY ANN THOMAS, HEROISM
HAS BEEN TROUBLING. SHE WASN'T ABLE TO GO BACK TO WORK IN THE POLICE PROPERTY ROOM.
>> I HAD A HARD TIME. I STILL HAVE A HARD TIME. >> Reporter: AND IT'S BEEN A HARD TIME FOR PETE PONCER, WHO
WAS LEFT WITH REGRET. THAT SECOND BOY HE COULD NOT REACH WAS FLOWN TO A HOSPITAL, BUT DID NOT SURVIVE.
>> A HERO WOULD HAVE GOTTEN THE SECOND ONE, AS WELL. AND THAT'S A CHALLENGE THAT I ALWAYS LIVE WITH.
I JUST COULDN'T GET THE SECOND KID. >> Reporter: HIS REGRET WAS COUPLED WITH CURIOSITY ABOUT THE
BOY HE SAVED SEVEN YEARS AGO. THE BOY WHOSE NAME HE NEVER KNEW. THE YOUNG MAN THAT YOU SAVED,
HIS NAME IS SEBASTIEN PROCOPF. AND WE FOUND HIM. >> OKAY. >> AND HE HAD SOMETHING THAT HE
WANTED TO SAY TO YOU, SO LET ME INTRODUCE YOU. >> HIM SEBASTIEN, I'M 18. I RECENTLY GRADUATED FROM HIGH
SCHOOL, AND I'M WORKING TOWARDS GOING TO COLLEGE, GETTING A CAR AND ALL THAT GOOD STUFF. THANK YOU TO THE ONE WHO PULLED
ME OUT AND LET ME BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE ALL THE MILESTONES THAT I GOT AND PLAN TO GET. >> THANK YOU, SCOTT.
>> WHAT IS IT LIKE TO SEE HIM TODAY? >> IT KIND OF TAKES MY BREATH AWAY, SCOTT.
THAT HELPS TO BRING SOME CLOSURE AND SOME HELP. >> Reporter: HELP FOR HEROES HAS BEEN THE MISSION OF THE CARNEGIE
FUND FOR 118 YEARS. IT HAS BESTOWED 10,000 MEDALS, AND AWARDED $40 MILLION. BACK IN 1904, ANDREW CARNEGIE
SENSED WHAT SCIENCE HAS NOW CONFIRMED. HEROES, HE SAID, CANNOT BE CREATED.
THEY ACT ON AN IMPULSE, A MYSTERIOUS QUGIFT TO THE FEW. >>> THE PSYCHOLOGICAL COST FOR SOME HEROES.
>> IT'S OKAY TO SAY LOOK, I SHOULD TALK >>> FOR DECADES NOW, RUSSIANS HAVE KNOWN THE DRILL.
WHEN THERE'S BAD NEWS BREWING SUCH AS THE DEATH OF A LEADER OR THE CHERNOBYL DISASTER, STATE TV SWITCHES ITS PROGRAMMING AND
BEGANS AIRING "SWAN LAKE." NOTHING TO SEE HERE, FOLKS. BUT NOTICE THE DISTRACTION, BALLET IS CENTRALLY IMPORTANT TO
RUSSIAN SOCIETY AND TO RUSSIAN IMAGE. DANCERS SLICING THROUGH THE AIR AND CHALLENGING LAWS OF PHYSICS
AND GRAVITY REPRESENTS STABILITY AND GRACE. BUT LAST FEBRUARY, WHEN RUSSIAN MILITARY TROOPS INVADED UKRAINE,
RUSSIAN BALLET TROUPES HAD THEIR SHOWS CANCELED. AS WE FIRST REPORTED LAST YEAR, THIS BRUTAL WAR PLAYS OUT ON THE
MOST DELICATE OF FRONTS, LEAVING BALLET IN EXILE. WHEN BALLET DANCERS ARE DESCRIBED AS GOD'S ATHLETES,
WELL, YOU COULD OFFER UP OLGA SMIRNOVA AS SUPPORTING EVIDENCE. SHE TREADS ON AIR, COMING IN ON LITTLE CAT FEET.
SHE'S A RUSSIAN PRIMA BALLERINA, ONE OF THE WORLD'S LEADING DANCERS. DAYS AFTER RUSSIA INVADED
UKRAINE, SMIRNOVA PIROUETTED AND STEPPED OFF HER STAGE WITH DRAMATIC FLOURISH. SHE TOOK TO SOCIAL MEDIA TO
EXPRESS HER OUTRAGE. AND THEN FLED THE COUNTRY. THE MODERN DAY VERSION OF BA BARISHNAKOV DEFECTING.
WHAT DID YOU SAY WHEN YOU WROTE THAT POST? >> I COULDN'T KEEP IT INSIDE. I WAS SO ASHAMED OF RUSSIA.
I'M NOT ASHAMED THAT I'M RUSSIAN, BUT I AM ASHAMED BECAUSE OF RUSSIA STARTED THIS ACTION.
>> I WANT TO READ WHAT YOU WROTE. YOU SAID YOU WERE AGAINST THIS WAR WITH EVERY FIBER OF YOUR
BEING, BUT I FEEL THAT A LINE HAS BEEN DRAWN THAT SEPARATES THE BEFORE AND THE AFTER. >> IT'S HOW I FELT.
THIS WAS THE LINE, BECAUSE IT ALL CHANGED, ALL CHANGED THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE. EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT A SOLDIER,
YOU ARE JUST RUSSIAN, IT'S SO -- IT'S STILL MAKE A SHADOW ON YOU. >> BEING RUSSIAN? >> BEING RUSSIAN.
IT'S REALLY PAINFUL. ♪ ♪ >> Reporter: PREDICTABLY, SMIRNOVA'S POST WENT VIRAL.
SHE WAS, AFTER ALL, A LEADING LIGHT AT MOSCOW'S BALLET. FROM THE RUSSIAN WORD FOR "BIG," BOLCHOY IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST
BALLET COMPANY AND THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS. THE THEATER IS PHYSICALLY CLOSE TO THE CELKREMLIN, AND ALIGN EDH
THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT. FOR DECADES, COMMUNIST LEADERS USED THE THEATER FOR POLITICAL STAGE CRAFT, HOLDING RALLIES AND
GIVING NATIONAL ADDRESSES THERE. >> THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CELEBRATES RUSSIA. EVERY IMPORTANT GUEST WHO VISIT
THE SOVIET UNION WILL BE INVITED TO SEE A PERFORMANCE, AND THERE WAS A PRIDE OF RUSSIA AT ANY TIME.
>> Reporter: ALEXY TRAINED HERE, AND WAS, FOR A TIME, ITS ARTIST ARTISTIC DIRECTOR. HE WAS BORN IN RUSSIA, BUT GREW
UP IN KYIV WHERE HIS PARENTS STILL LIVE. AT THE TIME OF THE INVASION, HE WAS IN RUSSIA CHOREOGRAPHING TWO
BALLETS. HE LEFT THE COUNTRY IMMEDIATELY, UNWILLING TO CONTINUE WORKING IN A WORLD SO TIED TO THE PUTIN
REGIME. >> AS I WAS GOING IN A TAXI TO THE AIRPORT, I FELT THIS LIKE SAND CASTLES FALLING APART
BEHIND MY BACK. >> THE SAND CASTLES WERE THE WORK YOU HAD DONE? >> YES, YES, YES.
I WAS IN AGONY. IT WAS A VERY HARD DAY. >> Reporter: AND, OF COURSE, A CATASTROPHIC DAY FOR UKRAINE.
INDISCRIMINATE BOMBINGS AND MISSILE STRIKES RAINING DOWN ON THE COUNTRY, CRUSHING LIVES AND DREAMS.
NOT LEAST, THOSE OF AN ASCENDANT BALLERINA FROM KYIV. YOU WANTED TO BE A BALLERINA FOR YEARS AND YEARS.
WHAT WAS IT LIKE WHEN YOU COULDN'T GO TO SCHOOL, COULDN'T DANCE? >> I WAS SHOCKED.
AT FIRST, WHAT I'M THINKING IS I LEFT MY SHOES IN COLLEGE. >> THAT WAS YOUR FIRST THOUGHT SP
>> YES. I LEFT EVERYTHING, ACTUALLY. >> Reporter: WAR DIDN'T STOP HER IN HER FOOTSTEPS.
SHE RESUMED DANCING AT HOME, USING WHATEVER SHE COULD AS A BAR. BUT AFTER A FEW DAYS, HER
PARENTS, BOTH FORMER DANCERS, FOCUSED ON GETTING PAULINA OUT. THEY CALLED ON A FAMOUSLY WELL-CONNECTED FIGURE IN THE
TIGHT KNIT BALLERINA COMMUNITY. YOU'RE GET THING BARRAGE OF EMAILS FROM PARENTS AND DANCERS. WHAT ARE THEY ASKING YOU?
>> PLEASE HELP. GET US OUT OF HERE. THEY'RE WILLING TO GIVE UP EVERYTHING ELSE, BUT THEY HAVE
TO DANCE, AND THE PARENTS WERE, YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT WE DO, THEY HAVE TO DANCE. >> THIS WAS THEIR LIFELINE?
>> THIS IS IT. THEY COULD NOT IMAGINE NOT DANCING. ♪ ♪
>> Reporter: IN THE 1990s, SHE FOUNDED YOUTH AMERICA GRAND PRIX. A BALLET COMPETITION AND
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, PAIRING ASPIRING DANCERS WITH BALLET SCHOOLS WORLDWIDE. >> WELL, NO, THEY WANT TO SEE
HER FOR A FULL YEAR, BUT YOU HAVE TO COME FOR THE SUMMER FIRST. >> Reporter: NOW, IN A
HUMANITARIAN CRISIS, SHE, AND THE INTERNATIONAL BALLET COMMUNITY, SCRAMBLED TO ACTION. SHE RELOCATED MORE THAN 100
YOUNG UKRAINIAN DANCERS TO NEW SCHOOLS AND HOST FAMILIES. >> WE GIVE EACH CHILD A NUMBER, JUST TO MOVE FASTER, AND WE SAY
OKAY, NUMBER 55 IS LIKE JUST GET A SPOT IN STUTTGART. NUMBER 54, JUST GET A SPOT IN DRESDREN.
>> Reporter: WHEN A SPOT OPENED FOR PAULINA, SHE STUFFED HER THINGS IN A BAG AND HEADED TO KYIV'S TRAIN STATION.
>> MY PARENTS ARE IN THE WINDOW OF TRAIN, THEY SAID GOODBYE, WE LOVE YOU. EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE.
AND I WAS CRYING AND WE WERE ALL CRYING. I WAS THINKING MAYBE I NEED TO TAKE MY SUITCASE AND GO BACK TO
MY FAMILY, BECAUSE MY HEART WAS BROKEN. >> HOW DID YOU OVERCOME THAT? WHAT MADE YOU NOT GET OFF THAT
TRAIN? >> BECAUSE IT'S OPEN DOOR FOR ME. IT'S A DOOR FOR MY DREAM.
♪ ♪ >> Reporter: THE 17-YEAR-OLD THAT SHE, IS PAULINA DOCUMENTED THE LONELY ODYSSEY ON TIKTOK.
TRAINS AND BUSES, FIVE DAYS AND 1200 MILES. KYIV TO LVIV. POLAND TO BERLIN.
FINALLY TO AMSTERDAM, WHERE SHE LANDED AT THE DUTCH NATIONAL BALLET ACADEMY, ONE OF THE LEADING SCHOOLS IN THE WORLD.
WHEN YOU GOT TO THE NEW SCHOOL AND STARTED DANCING AGAIN, HOW DID THAT FEEL? >> OH, I WAS VERY HAPPY, YES.
MY MIND CHANGED BECAUSE I WAS THINKING ABOUT MY PARENTS ALL THE TIME FOR MY FAMILY, FOR MY SISTER.
WHEN I GO TO BALLET CLASS, THE WORLD CHANGED FOR ME. I HAVE ANOTHER WORLD OF BALLET. >> Reporter: HER ADJUSTMENT WAS
MADE EASIER WHEN SHE FOUND OTHER UKRAINIAN DANCE STUDENTS WHO, THANKS TO LARISA, ALSO FOUND SAFE HARBOR IN AMSTERDAM.
♪ ♪ PAULINA FELL INTO A ROUTINE IMMEDIATELY. ON THE CUSP OF A PROFESSIONAL
CAREER, SHE PREPARED FOR FINAL EXAMS. SHE WAS JIJITTERY BEFORE HAND. SHE EMERGED RELIEVED,
TRIUMPHANT, AND EAGER TO REPORT BACK TO MOM. WHAT DID YOU TELL HER? >> THAT I WAS NERVOUS, BUT WHEN
I START, I DO EVERYTHING RIGHT. ♪ ♪ >> Reporter: IF THE WAR HAS MADE REFUGEES OUT OF SOME UKRAINIAN
DANCERS, IT'S MADE SOLDIERS OUT OF OTHERS. WHEN THE WAR BEGAN, ALEXY, A PRINCIPAL DANCE WE ARE UKRAINE'S
NATIONAL BALLET, TURNED IN HIS TIGHTS FOR MILITARY FATIGUES. HERE HE IS IN DOWNTOWN LVIV, HAVING JUST RETURNED FROM DUTY
AS A MEDIC. WHAT WAS YOUR LIFE LIKE BEFORE THE WAR? >> BEFORE WAR, I PREPARE NEW
PREMIER IN UKRAINIAN BALLET. LIKE A REAL NORMAL LIFE. AND JUST ONE MOMENT IT'S LIKE CHANGES.
BUT I NEED TO DO SOMETHING. I CAN'T JUST SIT AT HOME IN SHELTER AND WATCH TV, HOW MY FRIENDS DIE AND EVERYONE DO
SOMETHING. >> WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN THE LAST FEW MONTHS? >> EVERY DAY, IT'S REALLY SCARY.
THEY DESTROYED HOUSES OF CIVILIANS PEOPLE. IT'S BROTHERS, SONS, FATHERS, SISTERS.
>> Reporter: WHILE HE SAYS HE'S SHAKEN BY WHAT HE'S SEEN UNFOLD ON THE BATTLEFIELD, HE'S APPALLED BY A WAR TAKING PLACE
ON ANOTHER FRONT, AT THE BOLSHOY. >> IT'S NOW TOXIC. NOBODY WANTS TO WORK WITH YOU.
>> YOU SAID TOXIC? >> YES. IN RUSSIA ART, IT'S POLITICS, IT'S RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT USE IT,
IT'S LIKE WEAPON. >> Reporter: THE WEAPON WAS DEPLOYED AT THE BOLSHOY THIS PAST APRIL, UNNERVING MANY IN
THE DANCE WORLD, INCLUDING HEAD OF THE DUTCH NATIONAL BALLET, TED BRANSON. >> WELL, IT WAS A VERY CLEAR
STATEMENT THAT WE HAVE TO SUPPORT OUR BOYS WHO ARE ON A MILITARY OPERATION TO SAVE UKRAINE FROM THE FASCISTS, WHICH
IS A TOTALLY RIDICULOUS CONCEPT. >> THIS ALLEGORY SPARTACUS -- >> IT'S NOT FOR SOMETHING THAT THIS BECAME ONE OF THE SIGNATURE
BALLETS OF THE SOVIET TIME. ♪ ♪ >> Reporter: ABROAD, THE BALLET COMMUNITY HAS STAGED BENEFIT
CONCERTS TO RAISE FUNDS FOR UKRAINE, WHILE RUSSIA'S NAMED COMPANIES HAVE HAD THEIR TOURING DATES CANCELED.
>> I THINK IT SHOULD BE A LITTLE BIT MORE WITH THE ARMS. >> Reporter: WITH THE IRON CURTAIN DOWN, ARTISTS HAVE TO
PICK A SIDE. WE SPOKE WITH ONE REMOTELY THIS PAST APRIL. IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU DON'T BUY
THIS IDEA THAT LOOK, INDIVIDUALS SHOULDN'T BEAR THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACTS OF THE STATE, THAT ARTISTS SHOULD
JUST BE ARTISTS. >> NO, I DON'T THINK THAT THE ARTISTS ARE SEPARATE FROM POLITICS.
AND BESIDES, FOR ME, IT'S NOT POLITICS. IT'S ABOUT HUMANITY, IT'S ABOUT RESPONDING TO WAR CRIMES,
RESPONDING TO THE CRIMES OF YOUR GOVERNMENT, OF YOUR PRESIDENT. >> IT JUST MADE THINGS CLEAR, WHICH THINGS ARE IMPORTANT AND
WHICH RESAREN'T. AND YOU MAKE A CHOICE. YOU DECIDE WHERE YOU WANT TO BELONG.
>> Reporter: FOR OLGA SMIRNOVA, THAT CHOICE CAME TOGETHER IN A MATTER OF DAYS AFTER SHE CONDEMNED THE WAR.
SHE LEFT RUSSIA AND LANDED ON HER FEET. AT THE DUTCH NATIONAL OPERA IN AMSTERDAM, JUST AROUND THE
CORNER FROM PAULINA'S SCHOOL. IT MUST HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO LEAVE THE BOLSHOY. >> IF YOU MAKE A CHOICE, YOU
HAVE CONSEQUENCES. BUT THIS IS HOW IT WORKS. I HAD TO LEAVE EVERYTHING. MY HOME, MY THEATER, MY
REPERTOIRE, MY PARTNERS, MY PARENTS, SISTER, BROTHER, EVERYTHING. BUT THEY DON'T HAVE REGRETS.
>> NO REGRETS? >> NO. OF COURSE, AT LEAST I CAN BE HONEST WITH MYSELF.
>> Reporter: AMERICAN PHILANTHROPIST HOWARD BUFFET, SON OF WARREN BUFFETT, WATCHED OUR STORY LAST YEAR.
HIS FOUNDATION GRANTED MORE THAN $1 MILLION TO HELP SUPPORT THE EXILED UKRAINIAN
>>> IN THE WORLD OF SKIING, THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF SKIERS. THOSE WHO LIKE TO STAY ON THE GROOMED RUNS AND BE GUIDED
GENTLY AROUND OBSTACLES. AND THOSE WHO LIKE TO SKI THE WHOLE MOUNTAIN AND SKI TOWARDS THE OBSTACLES.
THAT IS CALLED FREE RIDING. MAN MADE JUMPS AND HALFPIPES ARE REJECTED IN FAVOR OF THE JAGGED CLIFFS AND DEEP CHUTES CREATED
BY MOTHER NATURE. THE SPORT TOOK OFF IN THE '90s AND IS NOW ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING DISCIPLINES IN SKIING.
IT ATTRACTS SOME OF THE BRAVEST SKIERS IN THE WORLD. BUT AS SHARYN ALFONSI FIRST REPORTED LAST MARCH, EVEN AMONG
THAT GROUP, 15-YEAR-OLD JACOB SMITH STANDS OUT. WE THOUGHT YOU SHOULD SEE WHAT HE DOES, BECAUSE HE CANNOT.
>> Reporter: THIS IS BIG SKY, MONTANA. HOME TO SOME OF THE STEEPEST AND MOST CHALLENGING SKI CLONSLOPES
THE COUNTRY. AND THAT IS JACOB SMITH, WHO IS BLIND. THREE YEARS AGO, HE WAS JUST 12
YEARS OLD AS HE MADE HIS WAY TO THE TOP OF THE 11,000 FOOT HIGH LONE PEAK TO SKI DOWN IT. WATCH THIS.
>> DROPPING IN THREE, TWO, ONE. >> Reporter: JACOB DROPS INTO A NARROW, ROCK WALLED 1400 FOOT CHUTE.
THAT DOT IS HIM, MAKING HIS WAY TURN BY TURN. A WRONG MOVE CAN BE CATASTROPHIC.
THE RUN HAS A 50-DEGREE SLOPE, WHICH MEAN IT IS YOU SLID DOWN, THERE'S LITTLE CHANCE YOU COULD STOP YOURSELF.
>> WHEN YOU'RE STANDING AT THE TOP, YOU FEEL LIKE IF YOU MOVE, YOU'RE GOING TO DIE. >> THAT'S THE MOMENT MOST PEOPLE
WOULD SAY NOT A GOOD IDEA. >> I JUST THINK, I'M ALREADY UP HERE, SO I HAVE TO MAKE IT DOWN SOMEHOW.
>> Reporter: HE DID, AND BECAME THE ONLY LEGALLY BLIND ATHLETE TO SKI THE LEGENDARY RUN. >> YOU DID IT.
>> THAT WAS AWESOME. >> HISTORY HAS BEEN MADE. >> Reporter: HOW DID YOU FEEL WHEN YOU MADE IT TO THE BOTTOM?
>> EXCITED THAT I DID IT. I DIDN'T CRASH. THAT WAS AWESOME. I MADE IT FOUR MORE TIMES, SO I
WANTED TO DO IT AGAIN. >> YOU WERE TESTING YOUR LUCK THAT WAY. >> WE HAVE JACOB SMITH ON
COURSE. >> Reporter: JACOB IS STILL TESTING HIS LUCK AND GOOD SENSE. WE MET HIM IN JANUARY AT A
JUNIOR REGIONAL TOURNAMENT IN BIG SKY. THAT'S HIM, NOW 15 YEARS OLD. COMPETING AGAINST 40 OTHER
TEENAGE DAREDEVILS, ALL OF WHOM CAN SEE PERFECTLY WELL. >> COMING RIGHT OFF THE TOP, FINDING A GOOD LANDING.
THIS TIME, THE BACKGROUND FOR ALL THE COMPETITOR'S SPECTACULAR EXPERIMENT WITH GRAVITY, WAS ANOTHER TRIPLE DIAMOND CHUTE,
APPROPRIATELY NAMED DTM. DTM STANDS FOR? >> DON'T TELL MOMMA. >> IT'S AN INSANE RUN, LIKE A 45
DEGREE SLOPE. >> YEAH. >> DO THE JUDGES GIVE YOU ANY SLACK FOR BEING BLIND?
>> NO, ZERO. >> DO YOU THINK THEY SHOULD? >> NO, I WANT TO BE TREATED NORM ALSO I CAN COMPETE WITH OTHER
SIGHTED SKIERS. >> Reporter: IT'S NOT AN INSIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE. WE WORKED WITH HIS DOCTORS AND
OUR GRAPHIC ARTIST TO SHOW ROUGHLY WHAT JACOB CAN SEE ON A RUN. HE HAS EXTREME TUNNEL VISION,
AND NO DEPTH PERCEPTION ON TOP OF THAT. IT'S BLURRY. HIS VISUAL ACUITY IS RATED 2800,
FOUR TIMES THE LEVEL OF LEGAL BLINDNESS. THINK OF THE BI E ON THE EYE CHART.
HE WOULD NEED IT TO BE BLOWN UP FOUR TIMES IN ORDER TO SEE IT FROM 20 FEET AWAY. >> FANTASTIC SKI TECHNIQUE.
YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO TELL HE'S VISUALLY IMPAIRED. >> Reporter: SO HOW DOES JACOB SKI LIKE THIS?
HIS FAMILY KEEPS HIM ON COURSE. ON COMPETITION DAYS, HIS LITTLE BROTHER, PRESTON, HELPS HIM HIKE TO THE TOP OF THE VENUE.
IT'S SO HIGH, THE DIFFICULTS WON'T TAKE YOU THERE. >> DOWN, DOWN. PERFECT, PERFECT.
KEEP GOING. >> Reporter: THEN HIS FATHER, NATHAN, HELPS HIM GET DOWN. >> NICE TURNS.
NICE TURNS. >> Reporter: JACOB HAS A TWO-WAY RADIO TURNED UP HIGH IN HIS POCKET.
HIS DAD IS ON THE OTHER END AT THE BASE, SOMEHOW CALMLY GUIDING HIM DOWN. >> IT'S ON ME TO MAKE SURE I
DON'T LET HIM DOWN. I HAVE TO GUIDE HIM THROUGH NARROW CHUTES OR NOT GO OFF A CLIFF.
>> YOU HAVE TO BE HIS EYES. >> YEAH. >> AND THERE CAN'T BE A DELAY. HE CAN'T SAY, ARE YOU SURE, DAD?
>> NO. >> HAVE YOU EVER MISSED IT? I FORTOGOT TO TELL HIM ABOUT TH? >> OH, YEAH, ALL THE TIME.
BUT HIS ADAPTATION IS AMAZING. >> HOW MUCH DO YOU TRUST HIM? >> ENOUGH TO TURN RIGHT WHEN HE TELLS ME TO.
>> JACOB IS PUTTING HIS ALL IN MY DAD'S VOICE. IT'S CRAZY, LISTENING TO SOMEONE TURN THERE, TURN THERE.
>> COULD YOU DO THAT? >> IT'S LIKE CLOSING YOUR EYES. >> Reporter: HIS SIBLINGS ARE ALL COMPETITIVE SKIERS.
THAT'S ANDREW, 17, DOING A 360. PRESTON IS 14, JULIA IS 12. DO THE OTHER COMPETITORS KNOW HE'S BLIND?
>> SOME DO. BUT THEY ALWAYS ANNOUNCE IT OVER THE INTERCOM THAT BLIND SKIER JACOB COMING DOWN THE HILLFUL
>> -- HILL. >> HE IS THE ONLY I HAVE TO SAY BLIND SKIER.
>> WOULD YOU KNOW IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW? >> HE'S SUCH A GOOD SKIER FOR LEGALLY BLIND.
>> IF WE TELL ANYBODY THAT HE'S LEGALLY BLIND, NOBODY BELIEVES US. THEY JUST GIVE US A BAD LUCK.
>> JACOB WAS BORN WITH VISION. AFTER HE LEARNED TO WALK, HE WAS ON SKIS. FAMILY VACATIONS WERE SPENT
BONDING DOWN THE TRAILS AT BIG SKY WITH HIS FAMILY. BUT IT WAS BACK HOME AT THEIR RANCH IN NORTH DAKOTA THAT AN
UNEXPECTED OBSTACLE CHANGED JACOB'S LIFE. HE STARTED GETTING HEADACHES AND BEGAN BUMPING INTO THINGS.
HE WAS 8 YEARS OLD. >> I RAN INTO A WALL OR SOMETHING THAT MY MOM SAW. AND TWO DAYS AFTER I WENT TO THE
EYE DOCTOR, AND HE TOOK ONE LOOK AT MY EYES, LOOKED AT MY MOM AND JUST ASKED, WHICH HOSPITAL DO YOU WANT?
MY OPTIC NERVE WAS SWELLING AND BLEEDING. >> DID YOU HAVE ANY SENSE THAT THINGS WERE GOING WRONG UNTIL
THAT POINT? >> NO. >> Reporter: THAT DAY, JACOB WAS FLOWN HERE, TO THE MASONIC
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IN MINNEAPOLIS, WHERE HE UNDERWENT AN EMERGENCY 12-HOUR SURGERY AFTER AN MRI REVEALED A
CANCEROUS BRAIN TUMOR THE SIZE OF A SOFTBALL THAT WAS CRUSHING HIS OPTIC NERVE. >> SCARIEST THING I'VE EVER SEEN
IN MY LIFE. IT LOOKED LIKE HALF HIS BRAIN WAS A TUMOR. >> SO YOU'RE NOT THINKING YOU'RE
WORRIED HE'S GOING TO LOSE HIS VISION -- >> I'M GOING TO BURY A KID. >> Reporter: IN THAT FIRST
SURGERY, DOCTORS REMOVED ENOUGH OF THE TUMOR TO RELIEVE THE PRESSURE ON HIS OPTIC NERVE, TO STOP HIS VISION FROM CONTINUING
TO DETERIORATE. HERE HE IS LEAVING A MESSAGE FOR HIS SIBLINGS A FEW DAYS LATER. >> I'M GOING TO MISS YOU ALL A
LOT. I REALLY, REALLY DO. MY VISION IS GETTING BETTER. I'M REALLY EXCITED.
>> Reporter: BUT JACOB WOULD NEED THREE MORE MAJOR BRAIN SURGERIES OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS, ALL BEFORE HE WAS 12
YEARS OLD. EACH TIME WITH AN EXTENSIVE REHABILITATION. >> DID YOU EVER GET DOWN ABOUT
IT? >> LIKE, I DID, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I WASJUST PRAYED A LOT. >> WERE YOU PRAYING FOR THIS TO
BE OVER, TO GET YOUR VISION SFWHAK BACK? >> THAT I WOULD STAY ALIVE AND
GET THROUGH IT AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED. >> Reporter: FINALLY IN 2017, A COURSE OF RADIATION ERADICATED
THE CANCER AND HE GOT A CLEAN SCAN, BUT IT INCREASED HIS LIKELINESS OF ANOTHER BRAIN TUMOR UP TO 30%.
>> RIGHT NOW, THE TUMOR WE ORIGINALLY TARGETED IS GONE, YOU KNOW, SO FAR SO GOOD. >> DOESN'T SOUND LIKE YOU HAVE
EXHALED. >> I DON'T THINK YOU EVER EXHALE. >> BECAUSE?
>> BECAUSE THERE'S ALWAYS THE WHAT IF, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GET PUT INTO THAT SITUATION THAT YOU NEVER FELT YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN
OR EXPECTED, I DON'T THINK YOU WILL EVER EXHALE AND GO, WE'RE DONE. >> WHOSE IDEA WAS IT TO RETURN
TO SKIING? >> WELL, MY DAD'S. >> TURN AND GO STRAIGHT THROUGH. >> WE CAME OUT HERE AND WE KIND
OF JUST TRIED IT OUT. EVERYWHERE I WENT SKIING FOR THE FIRST YEAR OR TWO WAS WITH MY DAD OR A COACH.
>> YOU TAUGHT YOUR KIDS TO SKI BUT NEVER A BLIND CHILD TO SKI. >> NO. >> SO YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHAT YOU
WERE DOING? >> NO. >> TELL ME ABOUT THE EARLY DAYS. >> AT FIRST, EVERYONE SAID GET A
ROPE AND A SIGN THAT HE'S A BLIND SKIER. I SAID NO, THAT'S NOT AN OPTION. >> BECAUSE WHY?
>> I'M NOT GOING TO LET THAT DEFINE HIM. >> Reporter: FATHER AND SON AND MITT THEY'RE TRYING TO CARVE
THEIR OWN PATH, FIGURING IT OUT AS THEY GO. JACOB SAYS HE'S LEARNED TO LISTEN FOR DANGER.
OTHER SKIERS, THE TURNING OF A LIFT, OR ICY CONDITIONS UNDERFOOT. HE SAYS HE REMEMBERS MANY OF THE
RUNS FOR WHEN HE COULD SEE. CAN YOU FEEL YOUR WAY DOWN A RUN YOU DIDN'T GO ON BEFORE YOU LOST YOUR VISION?
>> I MEAN, YEAH, I CAN. AND I'VE DONE IT. >> HOW DOES IT WORK OUT? >> PRETTY SCARY.
AND SOMETIMES IT TAKES ME A MINUTE. >> THAT'S GOT TO BE TERRIFYING. >> YOU GET USED TO IT.
>> HOW MANY CRASHES WERE THERE IN THOSE EARLY DAYS? >> I CAN'T COUNT THAT HIGH. >> Reporter: WHEN JACOB WAS 10,
HE SHATTERED HIS FEMUR IN 60 PLACES. HE SKIED INTO A TREE. ARE YOU NOT NERVOUS THAT THERE'S
GOING TO BE A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT, THAT HE COULD DIE DOING THIS? >> IT'S NOT THE WAY I ENVISION
LIFE. I DON'T LOOK FOR THE REASONS NOT TO DO THINGS. I'M NOT GOING TO PUT HIM IN
SOMETHING THAT I'M NOT GOING THROUGH FIRST, THAT THE CONSEQUENCES OF FALLING ARE NOT GOING TO BE LIFE THREATENING.
>> WHAT ARE YOU FEARFUL OF? >> THE ONLY BIG FEAR I HAVE IS NOT SUCCEEDING. >> YOU'RE MORE AFRAID OF NOT
SUCCEEDING THAN YOU ARE OF GETTING HURT? >> YES. >> WHY IS THAT?
>> BECAUSE I'VE ALREADY LOST MY VISION, SO A COUPLE OF BROKEN BONES AND A COUPLE MORE MISHAPS ISN'T A BIG DEAL TO ME AT ALL.
>> CLEARLY, HE'S FEARLESS. AS A PARENT, ARE YOU NOT FEARFUL? >> HE'S NOT RECKLESS.
HE KNOWS HIS LIMITATIONS. HE'S NOT GOING TO TRY TO DO IT BY HIMSELF. HE WON'T SKI WITH PEOPLE HE
DOESN'T TRUST. >> Reporter: NATHAN SAID HE'S CAUTIOUS ABOUT SKIING AND SKIING ON LOW VISIBILITY DAYS.
STILL, HE FINDS A WAY TO KEEP UP WITH HIS SIBLINGS. THEY ARE AN ENVIABLE PACK ON THE MOWN TEAR.
DO YOU SEE HIM BEING SUPER PLUGGED INTO EVERYTHING ELSE, LIKE THE SOUNDS. HERE'S THE LIFT, THE SNOW.
WHAT DO YOU SEE? >> HIS HEARING IS VERY -- HE CHOOSES WHAT HE WANTS TO HEAR. >> WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
>> THERE'S TIMES AT HOME WHERE YOU CAN SAY HIS NAME A THOUSAND TIMES AND HE'LL PRETEND LIKE HE DIDN'T HEAR ONE WORD.
THEN SKIING, YOU COULD FLICK AND HE WILL JUST TURN. >> Reporter: ON COMPETITION DAY, JACOB SUITS UP AND SENDS IT.
>> DROP IN THREE, TWO, ONE. >> Reporter: FINISHING 19th OUT OF 41 COMPETITORS. FOR JACOB, SUCCESS SUSPECT ABOUT
THE TROPHY, IT'S ABOUT FREEDOM. SHOWING OTHERS HOW TO NEGOTIATE OBSTACLES, EVEN WHEN YOU CAN'T SEE THEM COMING.
>> COMING TO THE FINISH LINE. >> HONESTLY, NO MATTER WHAT GETS THROWN IN FRONT OF YOU, WHAT KIND OF COMES OUT AND STRIKES
YOU, TAKES YOU OFF GUARD A LITTLE BIT, THERE IS ALWAYS A WAY TO CONQUER IT, TO ADAPT, TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
AND THEN STILL DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.
>>> THE LAST MINUTE OF "60 MINUTES" IS SPONSORED BY UNITED HEALTH CARE. GET MEDICARE WITH MORE.
>>> ONE DOWNSIDE OF A CAREER IN JOURNALISM IS HOW FAST IT CAN TRANSFORM AN OPTIMIST INTO A SEASONIC.
SO MUCH AIR TIME IS SPENT ABOUT REPORTING ABOUT DISASTERS AND CHARLTONS AND IDOLS WITH FEET OF PLAY
CLAY, THERE'S LITTLE ROOM LEFT FOR STORIES OF INSPIRATION. STORIES OF RENEWAL, OF HOPE AND OF VIRTUE AREN'T TO BE HAD AMONG
THE MANY TALES OF DOOM AND GLOOM. TALES OF INSPIRATION ARE STORIES TOO.
NOT ONLY CAN THEY INSPIRE THE VIEWER BUT THEY HELP KEEP THE CYNIC AND THE REPORTER AT DAY. AT LEAST FOR A WHILE.
I'M JON WERTHEIM.