Snowboarder Shaun White places fourth in halfpipe in final Olympics competition, Japan's Ayumu Hirano wins gold

Shaun White finished fourth in his final snowboard contest at the men's halfpipe on Friday morning at the Beijing Olympics, capping a 20-year career that spanned five Olympics while amassing a contest record that might never be eclipsed.

Japan's Ayumu Hirano, a two-time Olympic silver medalist, took gold by landing the most progressive run in the sport's history, including a triple cork. Australia's Scotty James won silver while Switzerland's Jan Scherrer took the bronze.

While White didn't win this one, he still proved he is still one of the best in the world. His second run was big, clean and technical. It included a frontside double cork 1440 and his signature double McTwist 1260 and was good enough for fourth, the highest finish by an American rider in the contest. In his final run, White went for broke and attempted the double cork 1440 combo that won him gold in Pyeongchang. He crashed on the second 14, and as he rode to the bottom of the pipe, he took off his helmet and held it high overhead.

«That's it,» White said to James in the finish area, tears welling in his eyes.

He had finished off the podium only once before in Olympic competition, in Sochi, but this fourth felt different. White lingered at the bottom of the pipe longer than usual, two decades of memories likely flashing through his mind. As he walked to the media area, the fans in attendance stood and showed their appreciation for a rider who always went for it.

«It's hard for me not get hung up on that last run, I wanted it so badly,» White said. «But I'm proud of the runs I put down. I'm proud to be here for my last goodbye.»

Because it's not White's wins — or even his spins — that made him a global star. It was the way in which he won and the