ZHANGJIAKOU, China (AP) — Shaun White has settled into the front row, which is what the next generation can do after pushing the boundaries of snowboarding for more than a decade.
At White’s farewell presentation on Friday, Ayumu Hirano of Japan won an elusive Olympic gold medal in the Halfpipe with his own cross-border run.
After Hirano’s electric power as the last driver, there was no longer any doubt about the winner. His race showed Today’s gold standard of Half-Pipe driving, the triple cap – three head flips that were once considered impossible. Hirano’s score of 96 reflected that, and the two-time Olympic silver medalist edged out Scotty James of Australia, whose best score was 92.50 in the Final three times.
Jan Scherrer of Switzerland won bronze.
White took fourth place when he crashed in the final race of a career in which the American Star won three Olympic titles. He raised his glasses and waved to the crowd as he walked down the half-pipe. He was in tears when the crowd said goodbye to the 35-year-old and his companions turned up to peck him.
“I’m honored to be here,” White said. “I want to thank the competitors for crushing him and putting me in my place, this old guy who holds.
“This is my last day. It’s so strange to say.”
What a final farewell, though-looking gravity defies, Make-you-dizzy Spinning Run from Hirano when he went into The clutch, just as White did earlier.
“He took a page from my book,” White said. “It’s not easy being the last one to drop it off.”
For this Hirano paid homage-who else? — White.
“He always shows me things I can’t live through yet,” Hirano said. “He’s always been my motivation.”
The stage was set for review and controversy after the second round. James took the lead with his second try, which scored a 92.50. Hirano followed with a Did-you-see-that run that included the triple Cork as part of his complex and unprecedented series of Flips and Spins that elevated a progress-obsessed Sport to new heights. But the judges gave it a 91.75 which drew boos from the crowd and sent social media buzzing.
ZHANGJIAKOU, CHINA – FEBRUARY 11: Shaun White of Team United States shows emotion after finishing fourth during the Men’s Snowboard Halfpipe Final on day 7 of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at Genting Snow Park on February 11, 2022 in Zhangjiakou, China. White competed in five Winter Olympic Games and had announced Beijing 2022 will be the last one of his career. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
“I know when I saw the best race that has ever run in the half-pipe. … It’s a travesty to be completely honest with you. I’m angry,” NBC analyst Todd Richards said. “What’s the point of pulling the triple cork, the most peril of all peril tricks, if you don’t get rewarded?”
Don’t worry. Hirano, 23, came out and did an even better version of his race. And this time he was rewarded.
“Justice,” Richards said.
Hirano had a power motivator on his side – anger.
“I couldn’t accept the result of the second set,” Hirano said. “But I managed to express my anger well in the end.”
Taylor Gold of the United States finished fifth.
The contest belonged to Hirano. But the Moment was also an opportunity for White to say goodbye to a Sport he had been hovering over for so long. He said before the start of the Beijing Games that this was his last hurrah.
White’s resume speaks for itself: Olympic gold in ‘06 and defense four years after. He also won in ’18, where he put back to back 1440s for the first time in his life to keep Hirano.
It was a rough start for White, who was slowed by a positive test, injuries and training issues. But he looked on his best side — even under pressure – when he qualified for the Final in his last race on Wednesday.
White carried it All the way to the Final and achieved his patented McTwist 1260 Double in his second race and a Frontside 1260 at the end.
“Shaun White’s legacy speaks for itself,” said James, who wore his patented red boxing gloves in the Final (he considers competitions to be boxing action). “He’s an amazing competitor and I think he’s generally highly respected as an athlete.”
James shared a Moment with White near the halfpipe and told his idol, “I looked up to you when I was younger, and I yearned to be like you.”
The words meant a lot white. So, the epic Performance on Friday.
“Everyone is asking me about my legacy and I think they saw it today,” White said. “These guys are amazing and I hope I inspired them.”
