Shaun White is a renowned American former professional snowboarder and skateboarder, widely regarded as one of the most influential and successful athletes in extreme sports history.
Born on September 3, 1986, in San Diego, California, to parents Cathy and Roger White, he overcame early health challenges, including a congenital heart defect that required two open-heart surgeries as an infant.
Growing up in a supportive family environment near the mountains, White developed a passion for action sports from a young age.
Siblings
Shaun is the youngest of three children in his family. He has an older brother named Jesse White and an older sister named Kari White.
Jesse, who is several years older, played a pivotal role in Shaun’s early life by introducing him to snowboarding and teaching him essential tricks, grabs, and spins.
Shaun has often credited Jesse as his inspiration for switching from skiing to snowboarding at age six, and the two brothers share a close bond.
Kari, Shaun’s sister, has also remained an important part of his life, supporting him at major events such as the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang.
She is the founder of a dog accessory company called Mayor B and is known for her close family ties, including being a mother herself.
Career
White’s career began remarkably early, with his first sponsorship in snowboarding arriving at just seven years old after following in Jesse’s footsteps.
He turned professional at age 13 and quickly rose to prominence on the amateur and pro circuits.
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White made his mark at the Winter X Games, debuting in 2000 and dominating events like superpipe and slopestyle.
He became the first athlete to compete and medal in both the Summer and Winter X Games, showcasing his versatility by winning gold in vert skateboarding as well.
His Olympic journey started at the 2006 Turin Games, where he claimed his first gold medal in men’s halfpipe despite a challenging qualification run.
White continued his dominance at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, securing another gold with a standout performance that included a victory lap on his second run.
After a setback in 2014, he returned triumphantly at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, winning his third gold medal just months after a severe training crash that required over 60 stitches.
White competed in five Winter Olympics overall, retiring after the 2022 Beijing Games, where he finished fourth in halfpipe.
Accolades
White earned three Olympic gold medals in men’s halfpipe (2006, 2010, and 2018), making him the most successful Olympic snowboarder in history.
White holds the record for the most X Games gold medals, with 15 across superpipe, slopestyle, and other events, along with a total medal count of 23 at the X Games.
He also secured multiple titles in both winter and summer X Games disciplines, including back-to-back superpipe wins and pioneering crossover achievements.
Additionally, White received ten ESPY Awards, including recognitions as Best Male Action Sports Athlete and Best U.S. Olympian.
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