Shaun White Makes Olympics History with Gold-Medal Finale
It was a thrilling finish for American snowboarder Shaun White. The athlete made history Tuesday night by becoming the first snowboarder to win three Olympic gold medals. USA Today sports reporter A.J. Perez weighs in on the significance of this moment.
"He's grown up before our eyes," says Perez about White. In his gold medal-winning ride, White scored back-to-back 1440s, four full aerial revolutions, which is a combination he reportedly had never even completed prior to Tuesday night.
"He's still the best in the sport," says Perez. "If he comes back in four years, I wouldn't be surprised."
At the press conference following his win, White faced questions over allegations of sexual misconduct from reporters. White dodged questions by saying he was "here to talk about the Olympics, not gossip."
Perez notes that White went on The Today Show after the presser and apologized for the gossip comment.
American officials expressed disappointment Monday after learning that bobsled, skeleton and luge events will not be held in Italy during the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics, a move that means athletes from those sports will likely be competing in either Austria or Switzerland during the games.
A memo sent ahead of the new season said that on-ice uniforms and gear for games, warmups and official team practices cannot be altered to reflect theme nights, which include Pride.
