Shaun White an Underdog? Japanese Rival Biggest Hurdle in White’s ‘Last’ Olympic Medal Dream

Shaun White is notably one of the best snowboarders in the world. The 3-time Olympic champion is currently the highest-paid snowboarder as well. Over the years, White has raised the bar of snowboarding to another level.

Being in a competitive sport, White has his own share of rivals. One of them is the Japanese snowboarder, Ayumu Hirano. Now that White has qualified for Beijing 2022, he prepares to face his biggest rival.

Can Shaun White get past his biggest rival?

There was a time when Shaun White ruled the snowboarding world. White was known to display skills and tricks that no snowboarder could think of attempting.

Over the years, the Japanese have also produced some really great snowboarders and come to dominate the sport. One of them is Ayumu Hirano, the 23-year-old snowboarder. Hirano won the LAAX Open this week, where White finished 3rd.

Hirano has been winning medals since a very young age. Currently, he is one of the top-ranked snowboarders, ahead of White. Hirano was also the first snowboarder to land the dangerous triple cork in the competition.

This is a trick that White has been struggling to perform and hasn’t been able to pull off yet. Now that both the athletes have qualified for Beijing 2022, it is essential that both of them land the triple cork, which will give them significant points.

The Japanese snowboarder is a crowd favorite and is expected to take home gold. In such a scenario, White has become the underdog. He will have to fight extra hard to get that medal and beat Hirano.

This will be Shaun White’s 5th Olympic Games, and he intends on going out with a bang. Meanwhile, Hirano too was deprived of the Olympic Gold two times, so the 23-year-old has his eyes set on the medal this time.

It will be a showdown of the best when upcoming snowboarding star Ayumu Hirano faces 3-time-champion Shaun White. Will Shaun yet again prove why he is the very best, or will Hirano show him the way out?

White to be at his best form in Beijing 2022

By qualifying for the Winter Olympics, White has shushed his doubters. Earlier, his qualification was still in question. But White did not want to leave it to last-minute chances and took control of things.

He decided to compete in the LAAX Open and finished 3rd, confirming his spot on the US Team. White performed his signature Double McTwist. He proved that his time was not yet over, and he still has the fight remaining in him.

White is determined to take another medal home from Beijing, as this will be his last Olympic outing. He has also revealed that he has practiced the triple cork enough and will perform it if necessary.

Safe to say, Shaun White will give his all this time and might just bring home a 4th Olympic gold medal.

READ MORE: “It’s Been an Incredible Run”: Shaun White Pens an Emotional Message Ahead of Final Olympic Games