After winning Winter Olympics gold medals in snowboarding, Shaun White of the United States revealed that he was hoping to compete in skateboarding at the Tokyo Olympic Summer Games in 2020 when the sport makes its Olympics debut.
"I would love to be a Winter-Summer Olympian and to be the medallist would be next level," said White.
He was awarded the Best Male Athlete by the Association of National Olympic Committees at the recent Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) Awards where he conveyed his transforming idea.
Shaun White of the U.S. poses with the gold medal of Men's Halfpipe during the 2018 Winter Olympics, PyeongChang, South Korea, February 14, 2018. /VCG Photo
The 32-year-old started his career as a skateboarder and won gold at the 2007 X Games. He has stated in the past becoming a Winter-Summer Olympian could be among his plans and he hoped to become only the sixth athlete in history to claim medals in both versions of the Olympics.
“I'm slowly making my way toward that goal but I haven't officially decided,” said White, “but yeah, it's in my sights for sure. As an athlete and competitor, you're always so hungry for that next win and the next thing.
Shaun White skates to a first-place finish during the X Games 13 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California, August 5, 2007. /VCG Photo
"It's amazing (that) I've been doing this for so long. I mean I was pro at (13 years old) and now looking back... it can't help but kind of look back and go 'wow' it's been such an amazing career, and I'm so proud of the way I've been able to hang in there this long.
"It's been awesome, and I still feel like I got more to give it, and more in me. And yeah it's amazing, but skateboarding would be just next level. And then, I still kind of have my sights on China (Beijing 2022) after that, but we have to wait and see."