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Shaun White Makes Emotional Return to Olympic Halfpipe 4 Years After Retirement
Shaun White still shreds.
As the three-time gold medalist continues his stay at the Winter Olympics 2026, he reunited with the halfpipe at the Livigno Snow Park, taking his snowboard for a spin.
“I can’t believe it’s been 20 years,” Shaun remarked in a video posted by NBC Sports on Feb. 12. “Twenty years since I first competed in Torino 2006 for my first medal.”
While looking out on the snowy course, Shaun—who was only 19-years-old when he won his first gold medal for the men’s halfpipe competition during his Olympics debut—reflected on his life post-retirement.
"It’s been a little bittersweet but still sweet,” Shaun admitted, holding back tears. “I’d be lying to say I didn’t dream about potentially competing here.”
Whether a formal competitor or not, Shaun proved his love for the game hasn’t wavered.
“Oh that was amazing!” The misty-eyed athlete exclaimed after finishing an impressive run. “I miss it. I miss it so much."
Indeed, the California native made his last Olympic appearance at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, where he placed fourth in the men’s halfpipe competition. However, he hadn't always planned on the games being his “last run.”
Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images
"I had my sights set on competing in Italy," he told ESPN in Jan. 2022. "I got pretty excited about the idea of finishing my Olympic career where I started it. But through this process, I realized I don't think I can do another four years, mentally or physically. This is going to be my last go."
But while Shaun wasn’t a competitor, he has gotten to experience the Olympic games from a new perspective this year. During the Olympics 2026 Opening Ceremony, he hopped in the broadcasting booth to commentate and cheered on his fellow athletes from the audience at both men’s and women’s halfpipe competitions.
"This is all an exciting time for me, from announcing and being a part of the Olympics in this new way,” Shaun told Olympics.com in an interview published Feb. 11. "I am excited to take it all in. See the different events like ice skating, skiing, half pipe, big air, obviously snowboarding. I'm just going to try to see everything honestly, that's my goal."
As Shaun continues to live it up in Cortina, keep reading to see some of this year’s major Olympics moments…
Xue Yuge/Xinhua via Getty Images
Heartbreak on the Ice
U.S. figure skater Amber Glenn breaks down in tears after missing her triple loop jump during the women’s short program event.
Catherine Steenkeste/Getty Images
Gloves Off
Tom Wilson of Canada scuffles with Pierre Crinon of France in a rare Olympic hockey fight.
Hu Huhu/Xinhua via Getty Images
Golden Moment
Brazilian skier Lucas Pinheiro Braathen is visibly emotional after winning the country's first-ever gold medal in Winter Olympic history at the men's giant slalom event.
He Canling/Xinhua via Getty Images
Across the Finish Line
As the first cross-country skier to represent to Haiti in Olympic history, Stevenson Savart collapses to thunderous applause after finishing the men's 10km race.
Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Bello!
Spanish figure skater Tomas Guarino dresses up as a Minion for his Despicable Me-inspired short program.
Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP via Getty Images
Dog Day Afternoon
A dog wanders onto the track during the women's team cross country free sprint qualifiers.
Andrew Milligan/PA Images via Getty Images
Canadian Chaps
Canadian curler Marc Kennedy watches his teammate Brad Jacobs apply lip balm during the men's round robin match.
Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Slip Up
U.S. figure skater Ilia Malinin, also known as "Quad God," takes an uncharacteristic fall during the men's single free skating competition, ultimately landing him in eighth place.
Robert Michael/picture alliance via Getty Images
Head in the Game
German bobsledder Laura Nolte gears up before training for the monobob, the single-person bobsleigh event for women.
Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
Victory Selfie
Following the women’s snowboard halfpipe competition, Korean snowboarder Gaon Choi poses for picture with Team USA's Chloe Kim and Mitsuki Ono of Japan taken using the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 Olympic Edition.
Qian Jun/MB Media/Getty Images
From One Olympian to Another
Georgian figure skater Nika Egadze snaps a photo with Simone Biles, the most-decorated gymnast in Olympic history, during the men's singles figure skating competition.
Daniel Kopatsch/VOIGT/Getty Images
You're on Candid Camera
A cameraman films U.S. skiers Breezy Johnson and Mikaela Shiffrin hugging after the second run of the women's team combined salom event.
Odd ANDERSEN/AFP via Getty Images
A Small Gift
French biathlete Lou Jeanmonnot has some fun with plushies of Milan-Cortina Olympics mascots Milo and Tina, which she received as part of winning the silver medal in the women's biathlon 15km individual event.
Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images
Thinking of Home
Skier Dmytro Shepiuk uses a sticky note to send love to his fellow Ukranians after finishing the men's super-G event.
WANG Zhao/AFP via Getty Images
Scream and Shout
Japan's Kaori Sakamoto is surprised by her score in the women's singles free skating team event.
JASPER JACOBS/BELGA MAG/Belga/AFP via Getty Images
All the Emotions
Dutch speedskater Jutta Leerdam wipes tears from her eyes after learning she set an Olympic record in the women’s 1,000-meter race.
Ian MacNicol/Getty Images
Big Air
China's Eileen Gu competes in the women's freestyle slopestyle—which earned her a silver medal.
Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
With Him Always
U.S. skater Maxim Naumov holds a photo of his late parents close after competing in the men's single skating short program.
Hector Vivas/Getty Images
Twists and Turns
A composite image shows off the many tricks seen in the women's freestyle slopestyle.
Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
Pierogi Power
Polish figure skater Ekaterina Kurakova holds up a plushie of a pierogi—widely considered to be Poland's national food—as she celebrates with her teammates during the women's single skating short program.
Tom Weller/Getty Images
It's a Bird, It's a Plane
No, it's Team Austria's ski jumper Julia Muehlbacher.
Robert Michael/picture alliance via Getty Images
Double Trouble
Selina Egle and Lara Michaela Kipp of Austria zoom by during the luge women's doubles.
Andreas Rentz/Getty Images
Say Cheese!
The winners of the figure skating team event snap a selfie with the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 Olympic Edition while on the podium.
Daniel Kopatsch/VOIGT/GettyImages
Never Give Up
U.S. skier Lindsey Vonn looks determined as she attends a training session days after rupturing her ACL in a crash.
Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Spin It to Win It
Alysa Liu of the United States performs the Biellmann spin during the women's single skating short program event.
Andrew Milligan/PA Images via Getty Images
So Close
Team Great Britain's Jennifer Dodds has a nail-biting reaction to the curling mixed doubles round robin match against South Korea.
Andrew Milligan/PA Images via Getty Images
Curl It Like It's Hot
Snoop Dogg, serving as an Olympics correspondent for NBC, tries his hand at curling at a practice.
Tim Clayton/Getty Images
In Sync
U.S. figure skaters and real-life couple Evan Bates and Madison Chock are a perfect match while performing their rhythm ice dance routine.
Federico Manoni/NurPhoto via Getty Images
On the B-rink of History
Laila Edwards, the first Black woman representing the U.S. in Olympic hockey, faces off against Czech player Sara Cajanova during the United States vs. Czech Republic game.
Hannah Peters/Getty Images
Friendship Knows No Borders
Australian snowboarder Valentino Guseli shares a hug with Team Czechia's Jakub Hrones during the men's snowboard big air qualifiers.
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