Shaun White is competing in his fifth Olympics this year, and he took an opportunity this weekend to make a major announcement about his future.
Speaking with reporters at the Beijing Games on Saturday, White said that he would be retiring from competition altogether after this year’s Olympics.
“This has all had its amazing glow as I’ve decided that this will be my last Olympics,” he said, per ESPN’s Tom Hamilton. “I’ve given it my all, there have been some ups and downs on the way to get here. And with that I feel I’ve got stronger and better.
“After the Olympics I don’t compete much … as there’s so much pressure weighing on you and that relief is warranted,” added White. “I usually take the season off to get excited again, but this will be my last competition.”
The 35-year-old White added that he arrived at the decision at the end of 2021, in part due to ankle, knee, and back issues that he was dealing with.
White is perhaps America’s single most well-known Winter Olympian ever. He has competed at every Winter Olympics since 2006 and has won three gold medals, the most of any Olympic snowboarder in history.
This year, White will look to add to that career medal count as he competes in the men’s snowboard halfpipe event next week. White provided us with some very memorable moments four years ago in PyeongChang and will be hoping to do the same in Beijing before he rides off into the sunset for good.
Photo: Feb 13, 2018; Pyeongchang, South Korea; Shaun White (USA) reacts after a run in the halfpipe final event during the Pyeongchang 2018 Olympic Winter Games at Phoenix Snow Park. Mandatory Credit: Jack Gruber-USA TODAY Sports
