‘Sad and surreal’: snowboard legend Shaun White to retire after Beijing 2022

• Knee and back problems convince triple gold medallist to retire
• I was watching the sun go down and it just hit me'

The American snowboarder Shaun White, who became the face of the sport by winning three gold medals, has announced that the Beijing Olympics will be his last snowboarding competition and he will retire from all contests.

I think this will be my, well this will be my last competition too, which is pretty special," White, 35, told a news conference. Competing at his fifth Olympics here, White had already said Beijing would be his last appearance on the Olympic stage.