Ceremonial Figure Shaun White Retires after Beijing Olympics

I bear in mind very vividly the day Michael Jordan retired from the game of basketball, twice. Over time, many athletes have been in comparison with Michael Jordan of their respective sports activities. Opinions might differ sport to sport, however some high names embody Tiger Woods, Wayne Gretzky, Muhammad Ali, Michael Phelps, and… Shaun White.

Shaun White is probably the most adorned gold medal Olympian within the sport of Snowboarding. He additionally holds the document for many Winter X-Video games gold medals, in addition to 10 ESPY awards. I feel it’s secure to say, Shaun White is the Michael Jordan of snowboarding.

The 35-year previous athlete realized retirement was nearer than he thought final November when he was in Austria. Watching the younger athletes pull off new methods that his “previous” physique couldn’t fathom anymore was the second he knew that his competitors expiration date was close to.

Shaun White entered the Olympic scene in 2006 in Italy. The 20-year-old from San Diego, California was no stranger to the highlight at this level in his life. Having been mentored by professional skater Tony Hawk from the age of 9, Shaun White turned skilled on the age of 16 years previous. The 2006 Olympics proved to be a problem when White was nearly eradicated from the competitors after his 1^st run. He got here out on high profitable his first gold medal. The world formally knew his identify. White claimed Olympic gold within the 2010 and 2018 Video games as effectively.

Age is often not on an athlete’s facet in the case of competitors. A recent physique can normally carry out very effectively. Nonetheless, there’s a superb line between expertise superseding a younger athlete. And within the sport of snowboarding, you must be prepared to place your physique by means of fairly the gambit if you wish to succeed yr after yr. Shaun White has effectively exceeded that expectation in his time as an athlete. A horrific accident in preparation for the 2018 Olympics landed White in emergency surgical procedure on his face after slamming into the rim of a pipe. Recovering from not solely competitors, however damage, has taken its toll on him over time.

It takes a powerful athlete to know when it’s their time to hold their hat. If you profession collides along with your ardour that additionally provides you with a paycheck, it’s a choice I can’t even think about making.  It goes with out saying, Shaun White might be missed within the excessive winter sports activities world. As somebody who has by no means touched a winter sport of their life, I can safely say that I’ll be unhappy to observe him go. He’s confirmed a number of instances that with plenty of laborious work and a few grit, you will get what you need out of this life.

If you happen to’re inquisitive about watching him carry out in his ultimate Olympics (and competitors) you possibly can watch his Half Pipe qualifying spherical at 12:35am Wednesday morning. It’s going to even be aired on Prime-Time tv on Wednesday night (February 9^th). The finals will air on Thursday, February 10^th.