Shaun White Reflects on Representing Team USA: "I'm Cheering for Sports I Would Never Have

Three-time Olympic gold medalist Shaun White shares his insights on the significance of representing Team USA and what being an American means to him.

In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, legendary snowboarder Shaun White candidly reminisced about his experiences representing the United States at the Olympics and the profound impact it had on his perception of his country and its values.

White first donned the iconic red, white, and blue uniform at the 2006 Turin Games, where he made his Olympic debut at the tender age of 19. However, it wasn't until after his return home that he truly grasped the magnitude of what it meant to represent his nation on the global stage.

"It was amazing. I really had the honor to do that five times, which is wild," White reflected. "To be honest, I didn’t really get it the first time I went to the Olympics. I was like, cool, I’m here, I’m trying to win this, you know? Me, me, me, which [is] what the sport is. It’s like my tricks, my practice hours, my competition, my runs, my whatever, my sponsors, all these things, and then you get home and you realize, after I won the Olympics, people were like, ‘You did it. You made America proud, you made us proud.’ And I didn’t realize that until afterward."

As White participated in subsequent Olympics, his understanding of his role as an ambassador for the United States deepened. He realized that he was not only competing as an individual but also as part of a team, representing the hopes and aspirations of an entire nation.

"I really like the Olympics for that," White said. "I was honored to do that."

One of the most impactful moments for White came during a USO tour overseas, where he witnessed firsthand the appreciation and support that American troops have for their country. Seeing the faces of these soldiers, who were unable to spend the holidays with their loved ones, made White realize the profound connection between his Olympic endeavors and the sacrifices made by the military.

"And it really actually hit home. I went on a USO tour because our troops overseas, they don’t get to come home during the holidays," White recounted. "And so, we’re over there, and just to see people’s faces when I came through was really a fulfilling and humbling experience."

Beyond the Olympic Games, White's experiences traveling to different countries and immersing himself in diverse cultures have further solidified his sense of pride in being an American.

"This is where I was born. This is where I learned everything I know," White said. "And to be honest, making the Olympic team, it’s like being a part of history. It’s like representing where I come from. I don’t know how to describe it. You can tell my age when I first went to the Olympics, I was like it’s kind of like ‘Harry Potter.’ You got all these different schools coming to the same place and we’re all showing our uniqueness and our culture and representing who we are."

White continued, "And I think that’s such a beautiful thing because there’s so many things that go on in the world that separate us. And the Olympics is one thing that’s always like, ‘Hey, we’re going to come together under the umbrella of sports and celebrate athleticism.’ And so that was always a cool thing that I was proud of and it made me, I think, more proud of where I am from afterward."

White's Olympic legacy is a testament to his unwavering dedication and exceptional talent. He retired after the 2022 Games with an impressive record of three Olympic gold medals and 10 Winter X Games gold medals. His journey as an Olympian not only brought him personal glory but also deepened his understanding of the true meaning of national pride and the unifying power of sports.