White soars to third Olympic title

PYEONGCHANG, Korea, Republic Of — The pressure was real. So were the tears – of joy, relief, redemption.

This is why Shaun White keeps going. This is why the snowboard-

ing superstar keeps coming back to the Olympics, a journey that’s seen him evolve from teenage phenom to global brand to living legend. One with a perpetual target on his back and impossible expectations to meet.

Standing atop the halfpipe on a grey Wednesday morning at slushy Phoenix Snow Park with his

hopes for a third gold down to one final shot. White never wavered.

“I honestly knew I had it,” White said. “I knew I had to put it down.”

The stakes left him little choice. Rising star and heir apparent Ayumu Hirano had snatched the lead out of White’s hand during the men’s halfpipe final, throwing a spectacular epic second run

to vault into the lead and put a portion of White’s Olympic legacy at risk.

One deep breath, a half-dozen near flawless tricks – including back-to-back 1440s, a trick he never landed in competition before these finals – and one seemingly interminable wait later White’s return to the top of his

sport was complete.

His score of 97.75 was more than two points clear of Hirano and almost six clear of Australian bronze medallist Scotty James. White had made it back from disappointment in Sochi four years ago and painful recovery from a crash in New Zealand last fall that required emergency surgery.