Aimee aims she has got
HE HAS helped propel snowboarding to new heights worldwide but Shaun White’s reputation is giving him an unfair advantage over his rivals, according to British star Aimee Fuller.
Last month double Olympic halfpipe champion White made headlines when he earned a perfect 100 score at the US Grand Prix in Colorado to qualify for a fourth Games in PyeongChang.
It was only the third perfect score in history, the latest chapter in the storied career of an individual who landed his first endorsement deal at the age of seven, and is worth an estimated £30million.
But his achievements on snow have also seemingly annoyed his rivals with Australian snowboarder Scotty James – one of the favourites for halfpipe gold in South Korea alongside White, right, – claiming the American was overmarked for his perfect score.
And Fuller, who competes in the slopestyle event tomorrow, is another who believes the hype helps White.
“Every snowboarder starts from the bottom and they earn their points,” she said. “Shaun White starts at the top and they deduct his points so unless he does anything in particular wrong, he’s staying at the top – he’s got Shaun White Points.
“It’s not particularly fair is it? But Shaun White has a glow. He walks in the room and everyone looks at him and that’s the same with his riding, he does stand out from the crowd.”
Criticising a rival is rare in the world of snowboarding – they are more likely to be found travelling the world together seeing who can lay down the most complicated trick or find the best powder to shred.
Fuller has posted on social media about hanging out with White, 31, and believes his achievements should still be applauded. “Shaun White’s done amazing things for our sport. He’s put it on the map,” said Fuller, who even bought her brother two tickets to the Olympic halfpipe final for Christmas.
“He’s an action sports hero in most young children’s eyes. I rate him, look how old he is and he’s still going. I have a lot of respect for that. Shaun White is a true athlete.”
Fuller is a schoolfriend of Rory McIlroy, who boasts a similar fortune to White at the peak of his sport.
“Rory is really cool, very modest and every time I see him he’s very respectful of what I do and we always have a good chat when we see each other in the gym when we’re home,” she said. “Before he sent out a tweet so hopefully he’s tuning in this time around.”
Manchester United fan McIlroy is likely to spend his spare time catching up on football rather than winter sports. But if he does tune in to the Games, he will see a very different Fuller from four years ago.
The slopestyle snowboarder says she underestimated the event when making her debut in Sochi, where she finished 17th as team-mate Jenny Jones claimed bronze and hogged the headlines. Now 26, she is ready to seize her chance, especially in the absence of injured team-mate Katie Ormerod.
“The last Games came round very fast, I qualified two weeks before, whereas this time I’ve been able to focus on what I want to achieve at the Games,” she said. “I’m here hungry for success, last time I was just happy to be there.”
With challenging rail and jump sections, the Olympic course is not for the fainthearted, although Fuller is not daunted, saying: “I am really excited about the jumps. I hope it will be one of the best runs I have ever done.” ●Watch Fuller on the Eurosport Player tomorrow. Don’t miss a moment of the Olympic Winter Games on Eurosport and Eurosport Player. Go to www.eurosport.co.uk