Shaun White on Retirement: "The Itch to Return Is Always There

Former snowboarding legend Shaun White candidly discusses his decision to retire, the lingering desire to compete, and his thoughts on the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics.

In the winter sports realm, Shaun White is an icon, a legend who dominated the halfpipe for years, amassing three Olympic gold medals and 10 X Games gold medals. At the tender age of 35, White made the difficult decision to step away from competitive snowboarding following a fourth-place finish at the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Retirement, however, has not diminished White's passion for snowboarding. In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, he reveals that the urge to return to the sport is ever-present. "It's just kind of maintaining this sort of like, well, 'you stopped for a reason.' And I spoke to a lot of athletes and they were just like, 'It never goes away,'" he confides.

White's competitive instincts, honed over decades of intense training and competition, remain alive. "You're like watching TV and (say) I could've made that catch," he shares. "They're just like that's just embedded and ingrained in your for so many years of doing it."

To grapple with this persistent desire to compete, White has sought guidance from other legendary athletes who have retired and faced similar challenges. He mentions conversations with Michael Strahan, Michael Phelps, and even Tom Brady, who famously unretired after a brief hiatus.

"Guys like Michael Strahan, Michael Phelps and I even ran into Tom Brady, which was actually great because he did the, 'Hey I'm gonna come back' and yeah it's hard to let go of that feeling. And it was cool to talk to him about (it) like, 'Man, we did it. We had our moment and we can celebrate that because the history books will show,'" White recounts.

While retirement has opened up a new chapter in White's life, he remains closely connected to the sport that made him famous. He has developed a successful career outside of competition, including his own brand called White Space, which produces snowboarding gear and apparel. He also sponsors young riders and stays active in the sport through product testing and development.

Despite his retirement from competitive snowboarding, White still practices tricks and rides for enjoyment. He is also planning to attend the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, where he hopes to cheer on his former teammates and friends.

"It's definitely fun, and I've still been able to get back out on the mountain and work on tricks and have fun and ride," White shares. "I have my own brand called White Space and we do boards and outerwear and all this stuff. I'm still involved in the sport through that. I was still testing products. We have now young riders that we sponsor. It's been cool but yeah definitely, like, I'll be there probably on the microphone or something for that Games. Definitely cheering my friends on."

Shaun White's retirement may have signaled the end of his competitive snowboarding career, but his passion for the sport and his determination to stay connected to it are immutable. He remains an inspiration to aspiring athletes and a reminder that retirement does not necessarily mean the end of a fulfilling and active life in sports.