Photos: Shaun White through the years, as he confirms it’s his last Olympics
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The Flying Tomato wants this to be his final takeoff.
Three-time snowboarding gold medalist Shaun White made it clear Saturday that the Beijing Games won’t just be his final Olympics, the 35-year-old American plans to retire from the sport he put on the international map after the halfpipe medal round next week.
“In my mind, I’ve decided this will be my last competition,” he said.
White has been a transcendent force for snowboarding, its most recognizable face for nearly two decades — and not just because of the mop of red hair that inspired his nickname.
Those locks have since been chopped, and White is now an elder statesman for the sport, hobbling into his fifth Olympics after a season marred by an ankle injury, a bout with COVID-19, a late unscheduled trip to Switzerland to secure his Olympic spot and, most recently, a training plan that got thrown off schedule during his stay in Colorado in January.
“I’m sort of pinching myself, with how lucky I am to still be here at this age,” he said during a reflective, 45-minute news conference.
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Andy Wong
FILE - Shaun White of the United States takes a jump during a snowboard slopestyle training session at the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park, prior to the 2014 Winter Olympics, Feb. 4, 2014, in Krasnaya Polyana, Russia. The Beijing Olympics will be the fifth Olympics for the three-time gold medalist. And the last Olympics for the 35-year-old — get this — elder-statesman who is now more than double the age of some of the riders he goes against. (AP Photo/Andy Wong File)
Andy WongFILE - Shaun White of the United States takes a jump during a snowboard slopestyle training session at the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park, prior to the 2014 Winter Olympics, Feb. 4, 2014, in Krasnaya Polyana, Russia. The Beijing Olympics will be the fifth Olympics for the three-time gold medalist. And the last Olympics for the 35-year-old — get this — elder-statesman who is now more than double the age of some of the riders he goes against. (AP Photo/Andy Wong File)
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MARK DUNCAN
FILE - United States Shaun White makes his first run in the finals of the men's halfpipe snowboard competition at the Turin 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Bardonecchia, Italy, Feb. 12, 2006. The Beijing Olympics will be the fifth Olympics for the three-time gold medalist. And the last Olympics for the 35-year-old — get this — elder-statesman who is now more than double the age of some of the riders he goes against. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan, File)
MARK DUNCANFILE - United States Shaun White makes his first run in the finals of the men's halfpipe snowboard competition at the Turin 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Bardonecchia, Italy, Feb. 12, 2006. The Beijing Olympics will be the fifth Olympics for the three-time gold medalist. And the last Olympics for the 35-year-old — get this — elder-statesman who is now more than double the age of some of the riders he goes against. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan, File)
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GREG BAKER
FILE - U.S. Olympic Snowboarder Shaun White speaks at a press conference in Turin Italy, Feb. 6, 2006. The Beijing Olympics will be the fifth Olympics for the three-time gold medalist. And the last Olympics for the 35-year-old — get this — elder-statesman who is now more than double the age of some of the riders he goes against. (AP Photo/Greg Baker, File)
GREG BAKERFILE - U.S. Olympic Snowboarder Shaun White speaks at a press conference in Turin Italy, Feb. 6, 2006. The Beijing Olympics will be the fifth Olympics for the three-time gold medalist. And the last Olympics for the 35-year-old — get this — elder-statesman who is now more than double the age of some of the riders he goes against. (AP Photo/Greg Baker, File)
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Gerry Broome
FILE - Olympic champion Shaun White of the United States reacts following the men's snowboard halfpipe competition at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Feb. 17, 2010. The Beijing Olympics will be the fifth Olympics for the three-time gold medalist. And the last Olympics for the 35-year-old — get this — elder-statesman who is now more than double the age of some of the riders he goes against. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File)
Gerry BroomeFILE - Olympic champion Shaun White of the United States reacts following the men's snowboard halfpipe competition at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Feb. 17, 2010. The Beijing Olympics will be the fifth Olympics for the three-time gold medalist. And the last Olympics for the 35-year-old — get this — elder-statesman who is now more than double the age of some of the riders he goes against. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File)
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Kin Cheung
FILE - Shaun White, of the United States, celebrates his gold medal after the men's halfpipe finals at Phoenix Snow Park at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Feb. 14, 2018. The Beijing Olympics will be the fifth Olympics for the three-time gold medalist. And the last Olympics for the 35-year-old — get this — elder-statesman who is now more than double the age of some of the riders he goes against. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File)
Kin CheungFILE - Shaun White, of the United States, celebrates his gold medal after the men's halfpipe finals at Phoenix Snow Park at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Feb. 14, 2018. The Beijing Olympics will be the fifth Olympics for the three-time gold medalist. And the last Olympics for the 35-year-old — get this — elder-statesman who is now more than double the age of some of the riders he goes against. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File)
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Gerry Broome
FILE - Shaun White, of the United States, removes his handkerchief as he competes in the men's halfpipe competition at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Feb. 17, 2010. The Beijing Olympics will be the fifth Olympics for the three-time gold medalist. And the last Olympics for the 35-year-old — get this — elder-statesman who is now more than double the age of some of the riders he goes against. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File)
Gerry BroomeFILE - Shaun White, of the United States, removes his handkerchief as he competes in the men's halfpipe competition at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Feb. 17, 2010. The Beijing Olympics will be the fifth Olympics for the three-time gold medalist. And the last Olympics for the 35-year-old — get this — elder-statesman who is now more than double the age of some of the riders he goes against. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File)
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Gregory Bull
FILE - Shaun White, of the United States, celebrates winning gold after his run during the men's halfpipe finals at Phoenix Snow Park at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Feb. 14, 2018. The Beijing Olympics will be the fifth Olympics for the three-time gold medalist. And the last Olympics for the 35-year-old — get this — elder-statesman who is now more than double the age of some of the riders he goes against. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File)
Gregory BullFILE - Shaun White, of the United States, celebrates winning gold after his run during the men's halfpipe finals at Phoenix Snow Park at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Feb. 14, 2018. The Beijing Olympics will be the fifth Olympics for the three-time gold medalist. And the last Olympics for the 35-year-old — get this — elder-statesman who is now more than double the age of some of the riders he goes against. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File)
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Mark J. Terrill
FILE - Shaun White, of the United States, competes in the men's halfpipe final in the men's halfpipe at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Feb. 17, 2010. The Beijing Olympics will be the fifth Olympics for the three-time gold medalist. And the last Olympics for the 35-year-old — get this — elder-statesman who is now more than double the age of some of the riders he goes against. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
Mark J. TerrillFILE - Shaun White, of the United States, competes in the men's halfpipe final in the men's halfpipe at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Feb. 17, 2010. The Beijing Olympics will be the fifth Olympics for the three-time gold medalist. And the last Olympics for the 35-year-old — get this — elder-statesman who is now more than double the age of some of the riders he goes against. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
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Jae C. Hong
FILE - United States' gold medalist Shaun White reacts during the men's halfpipe medal ceremony at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010. The Beijing Olympics will be the fifth Olympics for the three-time gold medalist. And the last Olympics for the 35-year-old — get this — elder-statesman who is now more than double the age of some of the riders he goes against. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
Jae C. HongFILE - United States' gold medalist Shaun White reacts during the men's halfpipe medal ceremony at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010. The Beijing Olympics will be the fifth Olympics for the three-time gold medalist. And the last Olympics for the 35-year-old — get this — elder-statesman who is now more than double the age of some of the riders he goes against. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
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Gregory Bull
FILE - Fans hold an image of Shaun White, of the United States, prior to the start of the men's halfpipe finals at Phoenix Snow Park at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Feb. 14, 2018. The Beijing Olympics will be the fifth Olympics for the three-time gold medalist. And the last Olympics for the 35-year-old — get this — elder-statesman who is now more than double the age of some of the riders he goes against. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File)
Gregory BullFILE - Fans hold an image of Shaun White, of the United States, prior to the start of the men's halfpipe finals at Phoenix Snow Park at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Feb. 14, 2018. The Beijing Olympics will be the fifth Olympics for the three-time gold medalist. And the last Olympics for the 35-year-old — get this — elder-statesman who is now more than double the age of some of the riders he goes against. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File)
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Andy Wong
FILE - Shaun White, of the United States, hits the edge of the half pipe during the men's snowboard halfpipe final at the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park, at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Feb. 11, 2014, in Krasnaya Polyana, Russia. The Beijing Olympics will be the fifth Olympics for the three-time gold medalist. And the last Olympics for the 35-year-old — get this — elder-statesman who is now more than double the age of some of the riders he goes against. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File)
Andy WongFILE - Shaun White, of the United States, hits the edge of the half pipe during the men's snowboard halfpipe final at the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park, at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Feb. 11, 2014, in Krasnaya Polyana, Russia. The Beijing Olympics will be the fifth Olympics for the three-time gold medalist. And the last Olympics for the 35-year-old — get this — elder-statesman who is now more than double the age of some of the riders he goes against. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File)
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Patrick Semansky
FILE - Men's halfpipe gold medalist Shaun White, of the United States, bites his medal during the medals ceremony at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Feb. 14, 2018. The Beijing Olympics will be the fifth Olympics for the three-time gold medalist. And the last Olympics for the 35-year-old — get this — elder-statesman who is now more than double the age of some of the riders he goes against. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)
Patrick SemanskyFILE - Men's halfpipe gold medalist Shaun White, of the United States, bites his medal during the medals ceremony at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Feb. 14, 2018. The Beijing Olympics will be the fifth Olympics for the three-time gold medalist. And the last Olympics for the 35-year-old — get this — elder-statesman who is now more than double the age of some of the riders he goes against. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)
