News

X-Games: Shaun White Takes Vert Gold

E365> Skateboarding - Monday August 06 2007

Shaun White, whose already potent celeb status will now truly be confirmed, put together an impressive final run to take his first gold in the men's Skateboard Vert on the final day of X-Games competition.

They call the 20-year old White "The Flying Tomato" because of his bright red hair, but it was his skating which really caught the attention of fans yesterday.

White had won six Winter X Games gold medals and an Olympic gold in Turin, Italy, last year. He finally captured the summer gold that had eluded him.

White had fallen on each of his first two runs and he really needed to make his final run count. And he did. He strung together a high-flying combination of McTwists, 720s and frontside 540s that had the crowd whooping.

After sticking his final trick, White dropped to his knees, ripped off his helmet, and sprayed water over his shaggy red mane.

"I was truly down in the pits after that second run," he said. "On that last trick I said in my head, If you fall on this, I'm going to hate you. You're going to hate yourself. Just stick it.' "

His score of 95.75 shot him well past leader Pierre-Luc Gagnon, who took silver after posting a 91.25 on the second of three runs.

Defending champion Sandro Dias had a chance to top White, but fell halfway through an aggressive final run. Mathias Ringstrom of Sweden earned the bronze with an 88.25.

None of the medalists from 2006 — Dias, Bob Burnquist and Bucky Lasek — finished in the top three.

"This means the world to me," White said, choking back tears after his run. "I've always wanted to be a skateboarder. I'm finally doing my thing."