Winter Olympics: Halfpipe, full heart for US snowboarder

Shaun White shows the talent that won him the men's halfpipe snowboarding title at the Torino Winter Olympics in Italy yesterday. Picture / Reuters

BARDONECCHIA - Shaun White, who won halfpipe gold at the Winter Olympics yesterday, didn't shed tears until he saw his family.

"It was just tears, not crying," White shouted, when teammate and silver medallist Danny Kass said he saw him crying.

"The family comes up ... their eyes are beet red. It wasn't my fault, it was my family."

White, dubbed "the Flying Tomato" because of his red locks, splatted his rivals with an awesome first run in the final to justify his favourite tag after recovering from a poor first qualifying run.

Fellow American Daniel Kass was second and Markku Koski of Finland third.

"For my mum it is great because I had heart problems as a baby. She'd hold my foot during operations," the 19-year-old said as he blamed his family for his rare show of emotion after claiming gold.

White was born with a heart defect and had two heart operations before the age of 5.

The whole Olympic experience has been moving for White, who is no stranger to the limelight after winning at the Winter X Games last month in the Superpipe.

"For me the X Games is an amazing event ... but this is so special as it doesn't come around as often. It's the world, the Olympics."

White made an inauspicious start when he landed badly after a jump, but he recovered his poise in the second qualifying round to make the final.

He then wowed the judges with his first run in the final, earning 46.8 points out of a possible 50.

"I was standing at the top of the pipe convincing myself it was a practice run and no big deal.

"Once I landed, it really hit me I was at the Olympics, and when I saw my score I was freaked out."

Like most teenagers, White plans to celebrate his victory but his main focus will be those closest to home.

"We are going to get crazy. We'll party with the family," he said, draped in the American flag.

- REUTERS