Table of Contents
Who Is Shaun White?
Shaun White, born on September 3, 1986, in San Diego, California, is a renowned professional snowboarder and skateboarder. He began his athletic journey by skateboarding at the Encinitas YMCA, inspired by his older brother. By the age of six, White had taken up snowboarding, which would lead him to remarkable achievements in both sports. Following outstanding performances at the 2006 and 2010 Winter Olympic Games, White solidified his legacy in 2018 by becoming the first snowboarder to win three Olympic gold medals. His iconic red hair has earned him the nickname “Flying Tomato,” and he has also secured numerous medals at the Winter and Summer X Games throughout his career.
Early Life
Shaun White was born with a congenital heart defect, requiring two cardiac surgeries before the age of five. His early introduction to skateboarding came after he followed his brother, Jesse, to the local YMCA. His mother encouraged his snowboarding ambitions by challenging him to master the switch stance, a skill that would prove invaluable in his competitive career.
Professional Career
White has been a prominent figure in the Winter X Games since 2002, amassing eight medals, including the historic achievement of four consecutive gold medals in slopestyle. He first gained international recognition when he won the gold medal in the men’s halfpipe at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Torino, Italy, followed by another gold in the same event at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.
In addition to his snowboarding success, White is also an accomplished skateboarder, inspired by the legendary Tony Hawk, whom he met at the age of nine. In 2006, he claimed first place at the Dew Action Sports Tour’s Right Guard Open in skateboard vert, becoming the only skater to successfully land a bodyvarial frontside 540.
Over the course of his career, White has enjoyed a series of sponsorships, beginning at the age of seven with Burton Snowboards. His notable sponsors include T-Mobile, Target, Mountain Dew, and HP. Additionally, he has ventured into various promotional projects, including a snowboarding video game, a clothing line, and a series of snowboarding DVDs.
Olympic Achievements
PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022 In PyeongChang 2018, White sought to make history as the first snowboarder to win three Olympic gold medals. He faced stiff competition from Japan’s Ayumu Hirano, who executed back-to-back double cork 1440s, initially putting him in a commanding lead. However, White responded on his final run with his own back-to-back 1440s, earning a score of 97.75 to secure the gold medal and mark Team USA’s 100th gold in Winter Olympic history. Remarkably, he made a remarkable recovery from a serious crash in October 2017 that left him in intensive care for five days.
At the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, White announced that this would be his final competition, finishing in fourth place.
Sochi 2014 In a notable moment during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, just one day before the qualifying round for slopestyle, White announced he would not compete due to concerns over the new course’s safety, which had already resulted in injuries for other competitors. He redirected his focus to the halfpipe event, where expectations were high for a gold medal. However, White ultimately finished fourth, while Iouri Podladtchikov of Russia won gold, with Ayumu Hirano and Taku Hiraoka of Japan taking silver and bronze, respectively.
Throughout his career, Shaun White has established himself as a pivotal figure in extreme sports, leaving an indelible mark on both snowboarding and skateboarding.
Film Career
Aside from a cameo in the film Friends With Benefits (2011), Shaun White has primarily refrained from making appearances on the big screen. However, he did make a guest appearance on the animated series American Dad! and served as a co-producer for the Disney Channel television movie Cloud 9.
Controversies Involving Intoxication and Harassment
In September 2012, White was arrested for public intoxication and vandalism following a disruptive hotel stay in Nashville, Tennessee. Reports indicated that he allegedly damaged a phone and activated a fire alarm, leading to the evacuation of the hotel’s patrons.
According to accounts, White attempted to leave the hotel in a taxi. When a hotel guest tried to prevent his departure, White reportedly kicked him and fled the scene. A chase ensued, during which the patron pursued White on foot until White fell, striking his head against a nearby fence. He received medical treatment for his injuries at a local hospital and was subsequently arrested and booked by law enforcement.
In 2016, Lena Zawaideh, the former drummer of White’s rock band, filed a lawsuit against him, alleging that he had compelled her to view sexually explicit images and videos, as well as wrongfully terminating her from the band. A settlement was reached the following year.
The allegations resurfaced during White’s Olympic appearance in early 2018. When asked about the claims during a press conference following his victory in the halfpipe event, he stated he was “here to talk about the Olympics, not gossip.” He later apologized for referring to the allegations as “gossip” and expressed regret in a statement to The New York Times, saying: “I regret my behavior of many years ago and am sorry that I made anyone — particularly someone I considered a friend — uncomfortable.”