WedSep 3

Shaun White

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

Shaun's Social Media:

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

2009
White Goes to the Winter X Games

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.

2010
He Conquers the Winter Olympics

White takes another gold medal in the halfpipe event at the Winter Olympics.

2012
His Epic Performance Stuns All

White becomes the first person to earn a perfect 100 in the men’s Snowboard SuperPipe at the Winter X Games.

2022
White Retires

After placing fourth at the 2022 Winter Olympics, White announces that the competition was his last.

Why We Love Shaun White

  1. 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!

  2. 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.

  3. 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

  1. His name honors a surfer

    Shaun White was named after professional surfer Shaun Tomson, and his parents hoped he would follow in his footsteps.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. He played guitar at the Lollapalooza Festival

    He performed with his synth-rock band, Bad Things, at Lollapalooza in Chicago.

  5. 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
2025 September 3 Wednesday
2026 September 3 Thursday
2027 September 3 Friday
2028 September 3 Sunday
2029 September 3 Monday
September
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
 
 

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