PYEONGCHANG, South Korea (BSU at the Games) — Shaun White made history Wednesday morning when he capped the men’s halfpipe final and was named the first snowboarder in Olympic history to win three gold medals at the Winter Olympics.
White’s medal was also the USA’s 100th Olympic gold medal of all-time earned at the Winter Olympics.
“I just put it down. I did what I knew I could do and what I’ve trained to do and it make it all so worth while,” White said. “I’m an Olympic gold medalist again.”
White is satisfied with where he’s now at in his snowboarding career and credits his support system with helping him stay grounded.
“You have to hand it to your friends and family to keep you on the ground and stay hungry because I could have easily done that and been like ‘I’m the man, I’m going to win it',” White said, concerning his mentality going into finals after placing first in the qualifying rounds on Monday.
However, what does White’s gold medal mean to everyone else involved?
White’s fans
It’s safe to say that White’s fans wanted gold just as much as he did, as fans everywhere sported the 31-year-old American icon throughout a packed crowd at Phoenix Snow Park.
Although limited by an orange fence hundreds of feet from competition, White’s fans were just happy to be there to watch a yet again stellar performance from their favorite Olympian.
However, White’s fans are no newcomers.
“I saw the documentary that he was in a long time ago and have been a fan for over 12 years now,” Lydia Phillips said. “I’ve followed his career since then because he’s not just a great snowboarder, he’s also a great guy. He’s friendly and nice to his fans.”
Phillips, a "Shaun White super fan" from South Carolina, said she went and made a poster in Photoshop right when she found out she could attend this year’s Winter Olympics. Phillips arrived hours before Tuesday’s finals to secure a front row spot in hopes of leaving with White’s signature on it.
“He signed my poster. This is the best day of my life,” she yelled after the competition. “I was so nervous every time he went up in the air. But I knew he was going to win it. I never showed any doubt. After he fell the second time, I tweeted to him because I knew. I was like, 'You got this,' and I sent him the picture on the poster.”
White wasn’t the only one who walked away with hardware, as Phillips left the park with a poster — signed by the legend himself.
However, when asked what’s next on the agenda for Phillips, she said she has to go back to reality at her job as a teacher.
It’s not just Team USA that supports the snowboard icon, either.
Jooyoung Lee is White’s biggest fan, even if she did grew up in a different country. From Seoul, South Korea, Lee also sparked her interest for White early on.
“Since I was a kid, I loved watching Olympic games and Shaun was always the best,” Lee said. “He’s really chill and cool and does other things as well. He plays guitar sometimes, too. He’s just a superstar.”
Just a few White fans away from Lee in the crowd, a pair of sisters born and raised in South Korea held up signs supporting White. Yuma and Yoontin Kim, who have each taken up snowboarding themselves, also made White their number one priority at the Winter Olympics.
“I’m a snowboarder, so I love him,” Yuma said. “He is one of the best in the world and even though I’m not [from the] U.S.A., I still root for him because he is amazing.”
The Kim sisters were among a group of Americans, a group they now call “their red, white and blue friends.”
White’s teammates
Team USA had four snowboarders qualify for the Olympics this year. Although White was the only one to stand on the podium, his teammates were right there to cheer him on.
After Wednesday's finals, 23-year-old Ben Ferguson called his teammate a “psycho” after White landed back-to-back 1440s along with his signature double McTwist in the run that earned him a gold medal.
“The 1440 is an insane trick and he nails it,” Ferguson said. “You watch the way he does it, his body position in the air and the way he’s looking straight up to the sky.”
Ferguson’s 90.75 on his third run left him just short of a spot on the podium, as he finished right behind bronze medalist from Australia, Scotty James. However, Ferguson prides White in his ability to perform under the pressure.
“I know he’s been putting in work and I think the dude thrives under pressure, honestly,” Ferguson said. “He just loves to win. He’s a competitor and that’s what he loves to do. That’s what drives him and he makes it work.”
Jake Pates and Chase Josey rounded out the men’s USA halfpipe roster, a pair that looks up to White.
“He just goes out there and shreds,” Josey said about White after the qualifying rounds. “His competitive drive is awesome and honestly inspiring.”
White feels the same way about his teammates.
“I really appreciate the other competitors for really showing their true colors and wanting to win and give it their all,” White said. “It really inspired me to go the distance and win.”
White’s new friend
White shared his Winter Games experience with a new pal by his side.
This time, it was as White’s invited guest.
Toby Miller struck up a friendship with White through the sport they both live for when he was involved in a program with White’s coach at the time. Ever since then, the duo has become inseparable.
Miller’s 18th birthday was Feb. 14 — the day of the halfpipe finals. Miller accompanied White while he spoke to the media after his victory.
“This is the best birthday ever,” Miller said. “I love what I do and this is the best birthday I could have ever imagined. My friend Shaun White just won a gold medal. It doesn’t get better than that.”
Miller said he was in charge of taking notes for White and running some of his social media during his time in South Korea.
His newfound friendship with White has lead him to become a favorite among White’s fans as well. While leaving White to tend to the media Wednesday afternoon, Miller was getting asked to take pictures and give interviews of his own.
“It doesn’t even feel like there’s an age difference between us,” Miller said. “I look up to him and now I consider him family. It’s just cool. I support him and he supports me.”
When Miller returns home to California after the Winter Games, he plans to continue to focus on his snowboarding career with help and guidance from White, of course.
White’s team
In an afternoon filled with interviews and press conferences, White doesn’t handle it by himself. He hands it over to spokesman and press officer for the U.S. snowboarding team Nick Alexakos, who oversees White’s interactions with the media and the public.
Alexakos, who spends a lot of time with White, his family and his fans, said things like White’s victory are the best part about his job.
“Watching these stories is amazing, obviously,” Alexakos said. “Watching [Shaun] work so hard and go through qualifiers and all that, it’s pretty cool to watch.”
Alexakos prides the athletes he works with for their cooperation and attitude when it comes to schedules, the media and fans.
“All the athletes have been amazing,” he said. “This is their moment and they’re super excited to share it with people and they’re all great with their fans. It’s been super fun and I’m lucky to be a part of it and kind of watch it all happen.”
Alexakos plans to enjoy the rest of the Winter Games and “watch as many athletes succeed as he can” before he returns home to his everyday job.
Shaun’s plans
After a 2014 Sochi Olympics that left an imprint of fear on his snowboarding career, along with 62 stitches in and around his lip, White is proud of himself for his capability to bounce back.
“In Sochi, I just didn’t have it in me,” White said. “It’s awful to admit, but I was unmotivated and it slightly defeated me before I got there. I’ve never really had the time to just enjoy the simple things in life and that was really tormenting to me during the run up to Sochi.”
With a comeback consisting of a completed pair of tricks that landed him at the hospital at Sochi, White feels that he is back on track and although he’s enjoying his most recent accomplishment, already has plans moving forward.
“To go skating at the summer Olympics would be incredible,” White said. “It’s a big passion of mine and I would love to give it my all and see what happens.”
Whether he’s shredding on the halfpipe, interacting with fans or hanging out with his team, White has figured out what it takes to be a snowboarding icon in all categories, while bringing his fans and support system with him every step of the way.
Kara Biernat is a Ball State University journalism student. She and 4 other BSU students will be periodically contributing Olympic stories to WTHR. The students are in PyeongChang, South Korea to cover the Olympics.
