Snowboarder Shaun White has been had an amazing Olympic career!
To date, White has won three gold medals from the 2018 PyeongChang Games, the 2010 Vancouver Games, and the 2006 Turin Games.
He also placed fourth at the Sochi Games. White holds the record for the most Olympic gold medals by a snowboarder and has also set a world record for the most X-Games gold medals.
On Saturday, White, 35, revealed that this will be his last snowboarding competition as he officially retires from the sport!
Shaun White Says 2022 Olympic Competition Will Be His Last!
Instagram / shaunwhiteDuring a press conference in China, White – one of the oldest members on the American snowboarding team – said that he thinks that the Olympics will be his last snowboarding competition… ever.
“I think this will be my, well this will be my last competition too, which is pretty special,” White said.
Although he had been experiencing knee and back issues from previous injuries, he said that there was no one injury that is forcing him to stop competing.
Instagram / shaunwhite“It’s this and it’s that, all these things are major things that brought me to this conclusion,” he said, adding that he took a chairlift up an empty mountain by himself to ponder his retirement.
“I was watching… the sun go down and it just hit me,” he said. “It was very sad and a surreal moment but really joyous as well.” He admitted that he “broke down” a little before calling his friends and family to let them know.
Although some fans will be sad to see him go, other fans think that they already know the reason why White plans to retire from snowboarding.
Is Shaun White Ready To Tie The Knot With Nina Dobrev?
Instagram / ninaAs The Blast previously reported, White and Dobrev met at an event organized by motivational speaker Tony Robbins in 2019. They started dating later that year, and things had been going so great for the couple that they decided to quarantine together at the start of the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020.
Although the former “The Vampire Diaries” actress has said that she has been hesitant to share photographs of her romantic partners on social media, she has made an exception for White.
Instagram / shaunwhiteAccording to Page Six, a close friend of the couple said that an engagement might be happening as soon as White returns from Beijing!
“They are so freaking cute and solid together,” the source dished. “I would not be surprised if an engagement happens any day now.”
“They share so many interests, they’re both driven, they’re both into self-healing and well-being,” they continued. “They’re both very spiritual and motivated. They’ve both worked so hard for so many years to make their own careers, so now they’ve decided that any free minute they get, they spend with each other.”
Nina Dobrev Is Fulling Supporting Shaun White’s Olympic Run!
Instagram / shaunwhiteAlthough the former “Degrassi” star won’t be able to cheer White on in person, Dobrev has said in a previous interview that she is “really excited for him.”
“Just to get into the Olympics at all is one of the hugest accomplishments, let alone to get in five times,” she added. “I’m so excited. I’m so proud of him.”
Although she’s not a professional snowboarder, Dobrev is still able to keep up with him on the slopes!
Instagram / shaunwhite“I actually have been snowboarding since I was really little,” Dobrev added. “I skied first and then I switched over to snowboarding at probably 8 or 9.”
“I think [White] was more surprised when we went [snowboarding] for the first time,” Dobrev continued. “He was expecting to wait for me and it was quite the opposite. I had already passed him by a landslide … I can keep up!”
Back in October, Shaun White told People that he has a “beautiful relationship” with Dobrev. “Nina’s incredible,” White said. “What an influence on my life.”
“Not only does she run her own show, her own world, companies she’s involved in, things she’s producing, all this stuff going on,” he continued. “She holds me to this same high standard which is so wonderful to have in a partner.”
Instagram / shaunwhite“I used to derive so much self-worth and things from these exterior events of competing, winning this award, getting this sponsorship, and doing these things, all these stuff,” he said. “Obviously, it’s been an incredible journey and I’m very pleased, not regretful of what I’ve accomplished in my lifetime and career.”
“To realize that those things of spending quality time with friends and family. During this pandemic, that’s what you have — the people around you,” he continued. “They just mean so much more to me now with age and time, and the recent events in the world. They just mean so much to me.”
Instagram / shaunwhite“Having their support, knowing that they’re there for me through thick and thin. Win, lose or draw, they’re there for me through everything,” he added. “I’m excited and proud to have them a part of this journey five times. That’s crazy.”
