reports on a happy milestone. >> reporter: two years ago kevin pearce was flying high. >> whoa, kevinr: a favorite on the snowboard circuit, poised for the podium at the vancouver olympics. but then he fell to earth. pearce missed a new difficult maneuver called the double cork while training on the 22-foot half pipe in park city, utah, slamming his head into the icy wall with such force it cracked his helmet. he was left near death with severe brain trauma. >> i guess from what i hear i never will remember any of what happened that day. you know, that's all right with me. >> reporter: pearce suffered memory loss and impaired vision. he would have to learn to walk again. his father, renowned glass blower simon pearce and the rest of this tight knit vermont family supported kevin each and every step of the way. >> what he's done in the last two years, i can't imagine anyone who's been part of it who wouldn't be inspired by it. >> reporter: kevin's brothers were a constant source of strength including david who has down's syndrome and who used to be his workout partner. >> let's go rip

week when burke crashed during a training run in utah, on the same halfpipe where snowboarder kevin pearce suffered a near-fatal fall in 2009. despite surgery to repair an artery that carries blood to the brain, burke suffered severe brain damage. at burke's request her organs and tissues will be donated. a real-life action figure blazing a trail for women athletes. anne thompson, nbc news. >>> we are back in a moment with a story about rescuing a national treasure. >>> if you were out east this summer for the earthquake, you remember where you were and you did not want to be inside the washington monument. the shaking did a lot of damage. just today we learned it will likely be closed until next year. the repairs could not have been paid for if it wasn't for the generosity of one wealthy american. call this a gift to the public from a member of the top 1% of the 1%. the story from nbc's tom costello. >> reporter: the new video of the damage assessment on the washington monument is truly breathtaking. >> this is the large crack on the west elevation. >> reporter: cracks and chipped corners

in 2009, kevin pearce, a promising, young, snowboarded suffered a severe head injury, when he crashede same spot as burke. >> i can even be still healing. so, i'm not really in the condition right now to compete anymore. >> reporter: but it's not just professional athletes. we weekenders emulate these daredevils. and they're also getting hurt. >> there may be examination to try to create more mechanisms or make the sport safer. >> reporter: burke was well aware of and accepted the dangers inherent in freestyle keying. >> you're always really pushing yourself to do something that is really tough and learn and progress. so, a lot of injuries involved. and always a bit of a risk. but that's the price you pay. >> reporter: off the mountain, she was one of the most glamorous female athletes in the world. on the mountain, she was a fearsome and fearless competitor. burke lobbied the olympic committee to add freestyle halfpipe skiing as an olympic sport. she would have been the favorite to win the gold. ron claiborne, abc news, new york. >>> and coming up next, a woman who took a stand when

week when burke crashed during a training run in utah, on the same halfpipe where snowboarder kevin pearcefered a near-fatal fall in 2009. despite surgery to repair an artery that carries blood to the brain, burke suffered severe brain damage. at burke's request her organs and tissues will be donated. a real-life action figure blazing a trail for women athletes. anne thompson, nbc news. >>> we are back in a moment with a story about rescuing a witonal treasure. a story about rescuing a national treasure. confused by all the nutritional information out there? from centrum. it puts you in the center of everything that's good for you. its unique self-assessment tool helps identify the multivitamin and supplement combination that's right for you and your lifestyle. so visit new nutritionpossible.com and take your personal assessment today. better nutrition is within reach. centrum. nutrition possible. better nutrition is within reach. what's he looking for? i think he's looking for savings. ♪ i can't watch this anymore. stop! there's an easier way! we compare your progressive direct rate to ot