Shaun White Debuts as Broadcaster at 2026 Olympics Opening

Shaun White, the three-time Olympic gold medalist in snowboarding, made his debut as a broadcaster at the 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony in Milan, Italy, on Friday, marking a new chapter for the retired athlete after a storied competitive career.

White, now 39, joined NBC's coverage of the Parade of Nations, providing commentary as athletes from around the world entered venues including San Siro Stadium. This appearance represents his sixth Olympic Opening Ceremony but the first from the broadcast booth rather than as a competitor. He carried the Olympic torch through Milan on Thursday as part of the relay, underscoring his continued connection to the Games. White's involvement highlights his transition from the halfpipe to the sidelines, where he aims to share insights from two decades of elite competition.

A San Diego native known as the "Flying Tomato," White dominated men's halfpipe snowboarding, securing gold medals at the 2006 Torino Games, 2010 Vancouver Olympics, and 2018 PyeongChang event. He also earned silver in 2006 and placed fourth in 2014 Sochi and 2022 Beijing, where he announced his retirement from professional competition. Over his career, White set...