Sochi vs. Shaun White

Shaun White after he qualified for the US Olympic slopestyle team at the Mammoth Grand Prix in January. PHOTO: Chris Wellhausen

Shaun White dropping out of slopestyle for the 2014 Sochi Olympics has created a huge stir.  Other Olympic riders have tweeted their opinions about Shaun being scared to lose.  The other rumors of his decision have been because of the dangerous course conditions.  With slopestyle set up to run before Shaun's best event, half-pipe, his reservations of getting hurt are justified.  Shaun is in the running for his third gold medal, something very few athletes can say they have.  Maybe if the schedule of events were in a different order and slopestyle fell after the half-pipe event then his reasoning for dropping out might not be as justified.  

Shaun has battled an ankle injury for the last few competitions and has a valid concern for his physical health.  Taking a bad fall could be the end to his opportunity to gain his three-peat at Sochi.  

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