Shaun White, nicknamed the “Flying Tomato,” was born in San Diego, California, on September 3, 1986. He’s a professional snowboarder, skateboarder, and musician and has earned three Olympic gold medals for the United States. Following in the footsteps of his older brother, White had a keen interest in snowboarding and, by the time he was 13, had won several awards. In 2003, he did exceptionally well in the Winter X Games, attracting nationwide attention. He qualified for the Winter Olympics in 2006 and won the first of his three gold medals in the halfpipe competition. He also later entered the film and entertainment industries.
Fast Facts
Full Name:
Shaun Roger White
Nickname:
Flying Tomato, Animal
Birth date:
September 3, 1986
Age:
38
Zodiac Sign:
Virgo
Height:
5' 8"
Relationship Status:
In a relationship
Net Worth:
$65 million
Background
Shaun Roger White was the youngest child of parents Roger and Cathy White. He has two older siblings, a sister and a brother. As an infant, White suffered from a complex cardiac condition and underwent two operations before his first birthday. Although the procedures jeopardized his chances of living a long and healthy life, White hasn’t experienced complications as an adult. Both of his parents were sports enthusiasts in their youth. During the winter, he and his siblings frequently skied on the neighboring mountains. The children were equally enthusiastic about skating and showed a natural affinity for it. White was the most aggressive skier of his siblings, prompting his mom, worried about his safety, to steer him in the direction of snowboarding.
In 2002, White participated in his first Winter X Games, where he consistently excelled. By 2013, he had won 13 gold medals, three silver medals, and two bronze ones in the snowboard slopestyle competition. He joined the halfpipe event at the Winter Olympics for the first time in 2006. However, White’s lackluster performance nearly forced him out of the tournament, but he quickly recovered to take the gold. In 2008, Shaun participated in the U.S. Open Snowboarding Championships’ halfpipe competition and won. Later that year, his national fame prompted a video game developer to release a game based on him. In November 2008, “Shaun White Snowboarding” was published and ranked as the 20th best-selling game of the year.
In 2012, White astounded everyone at the Winter X Games with a perfect score in the men’s snowboard superpipe competition. To his disappointment, he placed fourth in the halfpipe competition at the 2014 Winter Olympics but had a successful comeback in the 2018 Winter Olympics, where he won the gold in the halfpipe competition.
Career timeline
He wins another gold medal in the superpipe event at the Winter X Games following a highly contentious final wherein judges couldn’t decide between him and Kevin Pearce.
White takes another gold medal in the halfpipe event at the Winter Olympics.
White becomes the first person to earn a perfect 100 in the men’s Snowboard SuperPipe at the Winter X Games.
After placing fourth at the 2022 Winter Olympics, White announces that the competition was his last.
Why We Love Shaun White
He began snowboarding at six
Shaun White began skating and snowboarding when he was only six years old! He received his first sponsorship agreement when he was seven, and skateboarding legend Tony Hawk took note. You have to admire someone so passionate and skilled!
He’s got a finger in every pie
Apart from sports, White has ventured into entertainment, music, and business! He’s been featured in various television shows and movies and plays guitar in his band, Bad Things. White also has stakes in multiple businesses and has released his own video games. He’s definitely an accomplished young man.
He’s won a ton of medals
White’s trophy cabinet is overflowing. In addition to three Olympic gold medals, he’s won 18 X Games medals in snowboarding, 10 E.S.P.Y.s, and 10 U.S. Open medals. Before turning 21, he became the most decorated snowboarder in history, and a decade later, he’s still the best.
5 Surprising Facts
His name honors a surfer
Shaun White was named after professional surfer Shaun Tomson, and his parents hoped he would follow in his footsteps.
He used to sleep in a van
White went on family outings with his parents and siblings to the San Bernardino Mountains, where they slept in a van to save money.
Red Bull built him a superpipe
Red Bull spent an estimated $500,000 to construct a private superpipe for White in a back bowl on Silverton Mountain, Colorado.
He played guitar at the Lollapalooza Festival
He performed with his synth-rock band, Bad Things, at Lollapalooza in Chicago.
He co-owns a snowboarding festival
White owns a controlling stake in the worldwide snowboarding, skateboarding, and music festival Air + Style.
Shaun White FAQs
Does Shaun White have a spouse?
White was in a relationship with Phantogram’s Sarah Barthel from 2013 to 2019. In 2019, he began dating actress Nina Dobrev.
How did Nina Dobrev and Shaun White meet?
In 2019, the couple met during a class hosted by motivational speaker Tony Robbins in Florida. Following their speeches, Dobrev and White agreed to dine at a neighboring restaurant.
Was Tony Hawk Shaun White’s mentor?
Before becoming a professional snowboarder, the three-time Olympic gold medalist Shaun White was a phenomenal skateboarder. He began his skating career under Tony Hawk’s tutelage and has spent much time with him on the ramp.
Shaun White’s birthday dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | September 3 | Tuesday |
| 2025 | September 3 | Wednesday |
| 2026 | September 3 | Thursday |
| 2027 | September 3 | Friday |
| 2028 | September 3 | Sunday |
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