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Shaun White biography

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American skateboarder and snowboarder Shaun White, known as "The Flying Tomato" has won Olympic gold medals as well as multiple Winter X-Games medals.

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Shaun White, born September 3, 1986, in San Diego, California, had two cardiac surgeries before the age of five because of a congenital heart defect. He began skateboarding after following his older brother to the nearby YMCA, and took up snowboarding at the age of six. Known as "The Flying Tomato," White has won Olympic gold medals as well as multiple medals in the Winter and Summer X-Games.

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Professional snowboarder, skateboarder. Born Shaun Roger White on September 3, 1986 in San Diego, California. Born with a congenital heart defect, White had two cardiac surgeries before the age of five. He first got into skateboarding after following his older brother, Jesse, to the nearby Encinitas YMCA. After he took up snowboarding at the age of six, his mother ordered him to slow down by telling him he could only board backwards, or switch, a skill that would help further his career.

White has competed in the Winter X-Games since 2002, amassing eight medals including the first four-peat by a male athlete in one discipline, the slopestyle. In 2006, he won the gold medal in the men's halfpipe at the Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy. Known for his shock of red hair, he is often called "The Flying Tomato," or Il Pomodoro Volante in Italy where he is also popular.

White is also a professional skateboarder, gaining inspiration from legend Tony Hawk, whom White met at age nine. In 2006, he won first place at the Dew Action Sports Tour's Right Guard Open in skateboard vert. He is the only skater to land the bodyvarial frontside 540.

White signed his first sponsorship at age six with Burton snowboards. He currently has a full roster of sponsors, including T-mobile, Target, Mountain Dew and HP. He has numerous promotional projects in the works, including a snowboarding video game, a clothing line and several snowboarding DVDs.

© 2012 A+E Networks. All rights reserved.

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