Shaun White ended his competitive career at Beijing 2022, finishing fourth in the men's halfpipe final on 11 February. It was his fifth Olympic Games and his last ride.
A last final decided by 2.25 points
White led qualifying and opened the final at Genting Snow Park with a run of 94.25. His second run, built on back-to-back 1260s, scored 85.00 and briefly moved him into medal contention.
Then his rivals answered. Ayumu Hirano of Japan and Scotty James of Australia posted scores of 92.50 and 91.75, pushing White down the order. He finished just 2.25 points behind bronze medallist Jan Scherrer of Switzerland.
On his third and final run, White fell. He lifted his goggles and waved to the crowd on his way down the pipe. Hirano took gold with a triple cork 1440, James silver, and the American closed his career in fourth.
Three golds, five Games, one long career
White leaves the sport a three-time Olympic champion, having won halfpipe gold at Turin 2006 at age 19, Vancouver 2010, and PyeongChang 2018. His record run of 97.75 in 2018 made him the first snowboarder to win three Olympic titles.
He also holds 13 Winter X Games gold medals and stands among the most decorated figures the sport has known. Beijing was his fifth Olympic appearance across sixteen years.
"I always want more as a competitor, but I am proud," White told reporters afterwards. "I'm leaving behind a lifetime and a career in this sport and a legacy."
He walked away without a fourth medal, but with the crowd behind him and the sport he helped build still in his hands.
