Cody French could be bitter and angry, and not many people would blame him.

Over the past 2½ years, the competitive skateboarder from Elora, Ont., has faced a mystery illness that still isn’t resolved, he couldn’t travel to competitions in the U.S. due to COVID-19 restrictions and he battled depression.

But French is not bitter.

Despite everything he’s been through, he smiles and laughs easily as he sits on a picnic table beside the Silvercreek Skatepark in Guelph, Ont., in the rain.

“I’m so grateful and I’m so blessed,” he said.

The 24-year-old feels he’s on his comeback journey now, and hopes his story will