Shaun Whites’ tricks will take your breath away, which have twice earned him Olympic gold. But, when you realize that Shaun White was never meant to be an athlete in the first place, his snowboarding accomplishment is all the more amazing. Around 1% of newborns in the United States have a cardiac abnormality. White had four issues in his heart at birth, and he rarely discusses his heart problem.
He was so young that he wasn’t even aware of what had happened. White first rose to renown as the Flying Tomato, cultivating a reputation for being as outspoken as his once-signature hair. He made his Olympic debut in the snowboarding half-pipe in 2006 and followed that up with a repeat performance in 2010.
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How Shaun White battled with Heart Defects
Shaun White had heart surgery long before he mastered his heart-stopping techniques. While the cause of tetralogy of Fallot is unclear, it can be inherited. In around 5 out of every 10,000 newborns, the tetralogy of Fallot affects both males and girls.
A hole in the wall of the heart separates the lower two ventricles. An “overriding aorta” is a change in the aorta’s location. And a constriction of the pulmonary artery is one of the four defects that make up the tetralogy of Fallot. Patients with tetralogy of Fallot have a higher risk of developing significant heart issues.
Even after a successful operation, they need ongoing examinations to watch their heart health. White’s audacity and accomplishment inspire many people. But Cutler claims that families struggling with heart problems find it especially motivating. White started to make attempts to make things better.
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He altered the group of people he chose to be around. Then, resuming his ride, he did it with planning and purpose. He tried to learn to put the past behind him and recognize that his life was more than the sum of his accomplishments. And discover significance in areas he had before passed over.
How Shaun Whites’ family handled the situation
Roger and Cathy White resisted the impulse to swaddle White in a blanket. Instead, they allowed him to skate at the YMCA skate park and, in his words, “establish my bounds.” White was laughably skilled on wheels but even more so on snow.
via Reuters
2022 Beijing Olympics – Snowboard – Men’s Snowboard Halfpipe Final Run 3 – Genting Snow Park, Zhangjiakou, China – February 11, 2022. Shaun White of the United States reacts after his run. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner
The family would travel to the San Bernardino mountains in Southern California on the weekends throughout the winter. White flew in the air during the day and slept in the van at night.
Watch this story: A Quick Look at 60 Million Worth Shaun White Insane Car Collection
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With his neat tricks of overcoming hardship and where failures serve as a springboard to success, White is so successful. He is such a polished talker and knows how to motivate others with his struggles.
