Shaun White misses out on medal in final Olympic run

Snowboarder Shaun White has missed out on a medal in what he has said will be his final Olympic run. 

White, 35, finished in fourth place in the men’s halfpipe final on Friday at Genting Snow Park, NBC News reported.

The California native landed a 1440 trick during his third run, but fell on his next trick, ending his chance to get a medal in the event. 

White qualified for the final after finishing in fourth place in the qualifying round, rebounding from a crash in his first round which endangered his chance to defend his crown, according to NBC. 

“Everything was clicking, and I think I just I took that little laxed approach to that last hit and next thing I knew I was sliding on my back thinking, ‘What happened?’” White said after qualifying for the final round. 

Japan’s Ayumu Hirano won the gold medal in the event with a run that included a triple cork trick, finishing with a score of 96 points, NBC News reported. 

Hirano had twice won silver medals in the halfpipe, first at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and most recently at the 2018 games in PyeongChang. White earned the gold medal in the PyeongChang event.

Australia’s Scotty James came in second place Thursday and Switzerland’s Jan Scherrer finished in third.

Since winning his first gold medal in 2006 at the age of 19, White has gone on to become a five-time winter Olympian and a three-time Olympic gold medalist in halfpipe snowboarding, holding the record for the most Olympic gold medals won by a snowboarder. He confirmed last month that the 2022 games would be his last.

“I’m just enjoying every single moment,” White said after the opening ceremonies last week, per NBC. “Everyone [competitors] catching up. There are incredibly talented riders out there, and I feel like I had a helping hand to inspire them.”