Scotty James expresses his admiration for Shaun White as snowboarding rivalry comes to thrilling end

When Scotty James announced himself as a snowboarding force by claiming the world No.1 halfpipe ranking during the 2013-14 season, Shaun White was already a two-time Winter Olympic champion.

Over the following years, the pair along with Japan’s Ayumu Hirano formed the sport’s biggest rivalries and the trio shared the podium at the 2018 Games in PyeongChang.

Watch Scotty James and Shaun White’s emotional interview in the video above

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As the rivalry came to an end in Beijing on Friday with White’s retirement, combative Australian James was finally able to relax his competitive façade.

Under the mask was an admirer, who had something he had to get off his chest.

“Huge respect to him. The guy is the GOAT (greatest of all time),” James said to White, revealing that he had “never expressed this to him”, during an interview with Channel 7.

“To ride here and compete with him, and also to have become a rival over the years, has been insane.

“It’s a really tough and interesting situation, when you come up against a guy like Shaun White, who I looked up to when I was younger and I, no s***, aspired to be like you.

Tap here to watch the 7plus replay of the men’s snowboard halfpipe final

“There’s this level where I get to where I become competitive - and I have a lot of respect for him, but as a competitor, I almost have to get rid of the respect, because we’re both out here trying to do the same thing.

“And that’s been an amazing journey for me, to feel that emotion, and watch him do his thing, then become rivals with him.

“It’s been incredible to be here with you in this final, and PyeongChang.

“All the best.”

There was no fairytale ending for