Beijing Olympics spotlight - Snowboard icon Shaun White hits form at the perfect time

Shaun White is more than a snowboarder — he is an icon of his sport, dabbles with life in a band, thought about skateboarding at Tokyo 2020 — but recently, there were doubts about whether he would have a chance to go for a fourth Olympic gold medal. Having taken a three-year break from competition after winning halfpipe gold at Pyeongchang 2018, it looked like Beijing 2022 might be one step too far for the legendary athlete.

Ad/> But at this month’s Laax Open in Switzerland, White delivered when it finally mattered, achieving a first podium spot in five years by finishing third. It kept the dream alive ahead of selection for Team USA — and with it a chance to build on his record breaking haul of three Olympic snowboard golds, more than any other athlete in his sport.

Beijing 2022US stars Anderson and Gerard soar to snowboard success09/01/2022 AT 13:19 It was surely a relief for White, who has consistently gambled on taking long periods away from competitive snow after each Games he has competed at, though this was his longest. By doing it at this stage of his career — now 35 — there were questions about whether he could get his best form back.

At two World Cup events in the States, he had finished eighth and 12th — far down from the high standards he sets himself. /> He shut those suggestions down in Switzerland, delivering his signature double McTwist on his first run in the final, before holding himself back in the second run having already done enough.

The performance showed that White probably has more to give and the display will surely give him confidence with just weeks to go until the Games. White has always been a huge star in the US but in the past few years, he has mainly been drawing attention in the gossip