It was a highly competitive field in the gold medal final runs of men’s halfpipe of snowboarding on Feb. 14 (Feb. 13 in the United States). Japan’s Ayumu Hirano and Australia’s Scotty James each posted strong scores of 95.25 and 92.00, respectively. But after a second run that had resulted in a fall, Shaun White performed back-to-back 1400’s (four revolutions in mid-air) in his final run to score a 97.75, enough capture the gold medal.
White becomes the first snowboarder to win three Olympic gold medals. It was his first goal medal since winning at Vancouver in 2010. Only two other American athletes (speed skaters Eric Heiden and Bonnie Blair) have earned more career gold medals at the Winter Olympics with five apiece.
White’s win also marked the United States’ 100th all-time Winter Olympic gold medal. (Speed skater Dan Jansen had won the States’ 50th.)
Watch White’s gold medal halfpipe run:
REDEMPTION FOR SHAUN WHITE!
HE WINS GOLD on his final run in men's snowboard halfpipe! #BestOfUS #WinterOlympics https://t.co/E1XuTKbGvd pic.twitter.com/b4Yn2jVVGN
— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) February 14, 2018
