Snowboard pioneer Shaun White tested positive for COVID-19, but should be able to compete for a fourth gold medal in Beijing

Defending Olympic champion in half-pipe is now healthy and set to qualify for Beijing 2022

Compartir
Compartir articulo
Dec 9, 2021; Copper Mountain, Colorado, USA; Shaun White of the United States during snowboard qualifiers for the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix Snowboard / Freeski halfpipe event at Copper Mountain Main Vein Superpipe. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 9, 2021; Copper Mountain, Colorado, USA; Shaun White of the United States during snowboard qualifiers for the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix Snowboard / Freeski halfpipe event at Copper Mountain Main Vein Superpipe. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports

American snowboarding legend Shaun White revealed to Olympics.com in an interview Thursday that he had tested positive for COVID-19 over the Christmas holiday.

“I unfortunately got COVID-19 over the holidays, and now I’m bouncing back from it, and it’s not been a fun experience,” he said.

The last Olympic qualifying event begins January 7 as the U.S. Grand Prix kicks off at Mammoth Mountain in California. The three-time Olympic gold medalist hopes to make the four-man snowboarding team and represent the U.S. in Beijing next month.

FILE PHOTO: Medals Ceremony - Snowboarding - Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics - Men's Halfpipe - Medals Plaza - Pyeongchang, South Korea - February 14, 2018 - Gold medallist Shaun White of the U.S. on the podium. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Medals Ceremony - Snowboarding - Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics - Men's Halfpipe - Medals Plaza - Pyeongchang, South Korea - February 14, 2018 - Gold medallist Shaun White of the U.S. on the podium. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard/File Photo

“I’m just thankful that, like, I started testing negative before this competition, so I’m allowed to compete because that would have been a real frustrating position to be in to where, you know, it’s the last qualifier and I can’t ride,” said White.

“I had asthma as a kid and I have a heart condition. So you know, anything to do with lungs and respiratory is not so great, and it’s just been like this lingering cold.”

The 35-year-old pioneer of the sport returns to competition after a three-year hiatus. His seventh-place finish last month at the Dew Tour event makes qualifying at Mammoth Mountain paramount for the half-pipe veteran.

White has won Olympic gold three times: PyeongChang 2018, Torino 2016 and Vancouver 2010. However White fares during qualifying, the U.S. Ski and Snowboard committee will allow one spot on the four-man squad to be nominated through a coach’s decision.

White’s past Olympic success and experience, in addition to recent comments on Beijing being his career ‘swan song,’ may be enough for Team USA to give him the nod, even if he doesn’t make the podium in qualifying.

Recent Articles

The Friendship Games organized against Russia against the IOC will have the participation of 70 countries

The World Friendship Games (WFG) will feature competitions in 36 sports and will award 283 medals to the winners. The Russian Government announced that a press conference will soon be held to present them with more details and clarified that the invitations to participate are addressed to athletes and not to countries.
The Friendship Games organized against Russia against the IOC will have the participation of 70 countries

Clues about the pebetero: it will not be in the stadium but in the middle of Paris and in public view

From France, information indicates that the site chosen for the Olympic fire to be lit since July 26 would be the emblematic Tuileries Garden. Official sources did not confirm the fact, but they recognize the idea that it is located in the heart of Paris and in full view of fans.
Clues about the pebetero: it will not be in the stadium but in the middle of Paris and in public view

Nearly a thousand boats will welcome the torch in France

The parade in the Mediterranean will be minutes before disembarkation at the Old Port of Marseille; they must meet certain requirements and apply to participate.
Nearly a thousand boats will welcome the torch in France

France says it will “be ready” to ensure safety at the Olympic Games while raising the alert level

The attack in Moscow threatened the whole of Europe and security in Paris is once again in the spotlight, just four months after the parade of delegations on the Seine River.
France says it will “be ready” to ensure safety at the Olympic Games while raising the alert level

Will Paris 2024 have its red carpet?

Although all the expectations for July 26 are set on an opening ceremony that promises to be extraordinary, it is likely that, in the hour before the party, the world will attend a parade of luminaries from sports, arts and entertainment.
Will Paris 2024 have its red carpet?