Hungry for Gold, Shaun White Qualifies First for Men’s Halfpipe Finals with Near-Perfect Run

Shaun White looked poised to take Olympic gold on Tuesday in the men’s halfpipe qualifier. Photo: NBC

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Say what you will about Shaun White. The man is unequivocally gifted and at this year’s Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, he looks intent not to let another gold medal slip through his fingers.

Halfpipe Semi-Finals about to start?? Wish me luck! #Olympics ?- @tobymiller

A post shared by Shaun White (@shaunwhite) on Feb 12, 2018 at 7:55pm PST

On Tuesday (Monday night U.S. time), White posted a 93.25 in his first run, which as the third-best run of the day would have seen him handily qualify for Wednesday’s final.

Shaun. White. #BestOfUS #WinterOlympics https://t.co/D65Nuoyydu pic.twitter.com/GC1pefDfGX

— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) February 13, 2018

Later, White topped his first run with two back-to-back 1260’s earning him a 98.5 and making him first to qualify. Fellow Americans Ben Ferguson, Chase Josey, and Jake Pates also successfully qualified for the halfpipe final.

SHAUN WHITE IS ON A MISSION. #BestOfUS #WinterOlympics https://t.co/E1XuTKthTN pic.twitter.com/Lp6pO9048O

— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) February 13, 2018

So happy to qualify first into finals. The level of riding today was incredible! Tomorrow is the moment I’ve been looking forward to for 4 years… Let’s do this?? #Olympics #GameTime

A post shared by Shaun White (@shaunwhite) on Feb 13, 2018 at 7:45am PST

The men’s halfpipe final will air in the US tonight on NBC at 5:30 Pacific/ 8:30 Eastern.