His Final Hurrah
Three-time gold medalist Shaun White has declared that Beijing will be his very last Winter Olympics. Here, the snowboarding champ, 35, looks back at his five-time Olympics journey — and what he’s learned along the way.
Q: Are you hoping for one final gold medal in Beijing?
At this stage, I’m just appreciative wherever I end up. I mean, you want to succeed, but it’s a judged event, so it’s all opinion-based on who did what with tricks, so I’m going in with eyes open. I’ve been to the Olympics and won, and I’ve been and not succeeded. Life goes on!
Q: Does it feel sad that it’s your final Winter Olympics?
In many ways it is. It’s like leaving high school and my friends. But there’s also this amazing excitement, knowing that this will be the last go.
Q: Any chance you’ll change your mind and return in 2026?
No. I’m so happy and ready for that next chapter in life. I’ve been there and done that, and I’m so proud of it all. It might be a different story if I’d never won, but now I’m excited to support the next generation and see where they take the sport. To see where snowboarding is today from when I started is just incredible.