Shaun White retires from Olympic competition: 'This has been the ride of my life!'

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Legendary snowboarder Shaun White has decided to retire from Olympic competition after his run at the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing.

White released a lengthy statement Friday, saying he had "slid down the halfpipe at the Olympics for the final time."

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The United States' Shaun White waves after competing in the men's halfpipe finals at the 2022 Winter Olympics Feb. 11, 2022, in Zhangjiakou, China. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

"Typing this now makes me just as emotional as I felt last Friday," he said. "It brings me tears of joy. It has been a rollercoaster of emotions and I am overwhelmed with appreciation. Closing this chapter of my life has made me reflect on the past 22 years as a professional snowboarder with gratitude."

White thanked the late Jake Burton, who was one of the inventors of the modern snowboard, as well as his family.

"I want to thank Jake Burton and the entire Carpenter family for supporting me for so many years. Jake revolutionized this sport. He gave me my first snowboard and my first sponsorship at the age of 7 … I wish he could have been at the bottom of the halfpipe in Beijing, just as he was at every other Olympics prior. I miss you dearly, my friend. Thank you," he added.

"Thank you to my team. My coach, JJ Thomas, my physical therapist, Esther Lee, my broad technician, Kenny Kunalt and my trainer, Jason Walsh and many others. I couldn’t have done it without each and every one of you. The long hours of mental, physical preparation and support are what got me to where I am today. Still competing at the Olympics at 35. It takes a village, and I am so incredibly lucky to have had such