Snowboarding legend Shaun White savoured the feeling of "redemption" Wednesday after he produced a jaw-dropping final run to win his third Olympic halfpipe title Wednesday, bringing up a 100th Winter Games gold for the United States in the process.
The 31-year-old athlete, who won at the 2006 Turin Games and in Vancouver four years later, delivered his brilliant best when it really mattered after Japan's Ayumu Hirano had asked serious questions about the American's stomach for a fight in Pyeongchang.
Going for broke in the day's final descent, White held his nerve as he nailed back-to-back 1440 spins to score 97.75 points, pipping Hirano's second run by just 2.50.
Two-time world champion Scotty James of Australia took bronze after an opening score of 92.00.
"I watched Ayumu beat my previous run's score and I was pretty frustrated," said White, known as the "Flying Tomato" because of his red hair.
"The pressure was on," he added. "I just told myself, 'you know you got this - it's what you've done your whole life, so savour this moment because you might just win the Olympics'.
"I knew I had it in me to do it."
As he exited the pipe after that final run, White punched the air in delight but he admitted that what followed was both "awful and amazing" as he waiting agonisingly for his score.
When it finally flashed up, he hurled away his board in excitement and sank to his knees.
"It was an eternity," he said. "I guess I'm almost expected to do these flawless runs and I can't help but wonder if they're kind of going to nit-pick my run because of that.
"I knew I put down an amazing ride and I could walk away with my head held high. But I had to dig deep for this one and getting that score at the end was overwhelming - I was crippled with joy."
Victory was all the more sweet for White after he flopped in Sochi four years ago.
"My third gold medal at my fourth Olympics," he sighed. "I'm feeling blessed. It means the world to me to come back from Sochi.
"It was a deja-vu situation, standing there needing to land a run to win the Olympics and I just couldn't do it (in Sochi). I was defeated in my mind before I dropped in.
"But it's a rarity you get these opportunities to redeem yourself. I've been through so much to get here. I had this crazy injury in New Zealand [in October] where I busted my face open.
"I actually did the same trick that injured me here in the halfpipe today. So there were a lot of obstacles to overcome and now it's all worth it. I don't know what's happening. I'm still shaking."
Hirano had to settle for a second consecutive silver, but paid tribute to the victor.
"Shaun is cool like that," shrugged the 19-year-old Japanese. "To be able to deliver like that with so much pressure is incredible."
James saw his hopes dashed when he fell on his final effort but was still on an emotional high.
"I've had a crazy couple of seasons and stood on a lot of podiums but this one's definitely sentimental," said the Australian.
"It caught me off guard. I was trying to fight back the tears but I couldn't do it."
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Team USA have now won all four of snowboarding conditions so far.
The 17-year-olds Chloe Kim and Red Gerard, along with fellow American Jamie Anderson, have all won in Pyeongchang, where competitors have struggled with blustery winds.
However, poor visibility caused by light snow made conditions tricky for riders Wednesday and several fell, including Japan's Yuto Totsuka.
The 16-year-old suffered a horrific crash as he landed on the lip of the pipe and was rushed to hospital after being stretchered away by medics.
Japanese officials said the injury was "not that serious" and that the athlete was undergoing further tests.
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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How to volunteer
The UAE volunteers campaign can be reached at www.volunteers.ae , or by calling 800-VOLAE (80086523), or emailing info@volunteers.ae.
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
What is an FTO Designation?
FTO designations impose immigration restrictions on members of the organisation simply by virtue of their membership and triggers a criminal prohibition on knowingly providing material support or resources to the designated organisation as well as asset freezes.
It is a crime for a person in the United States or subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to knowingly provide “material support or resources” to or receive military-type training from or on behalf of a designated FTO.
Representatives and members of a designated FTO, if they are aliens, are inadmissible to and, in certain circumstances removable from, the United States.
Except as authorised by the Secretary of the Treasury, any US financial institution that becomes aware that it has possession of or control over funds in which an FTO or its agent has an interest must retain possession of or control over the funds and report the funds to the Treasury Department.
Source: US Department of State
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The biog
Title: General Practitioner with a speciality in cardiology
Previous jobs: Worked in well-known hospitals Jaslok and Breach Candy in Mumbai, India
Education: Medical degree from the Government Medical College in Nagpur
How it all began: opened his first clinic in Ajman in 1993
Family: a 90-year-old mother, wife and two daughters
Remembers a time when medicines from India were purchased per kilo
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Getting there
The flights
Flydubai operates up to seven flights a week to Helsinki. Return fares to Helsinki from Dubai start from Dh1,545 in Economy and Dh7,560 in Business Class.
The stay
Golden Crown Igloos in Levi offer stays from Dh1,215 per person per night for a superior igloo; www.leviniglut.net
Panorama Hotel in Levi is conveniently located at the top of Levi fell, a short walk from the gondola. Stays start from Dh292 per night based on two people sharing; www. golevi.fi/en/accommodation/hotel-levi-panorama
Arctic Treehouse Hotel in Rovaniemi offers stays from Dh1,379 per night based on two people sharing; www.arctictreehousehotel.com
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
Women & Power: A Manifesto
Mary Beard
Profile Books and London Review of Books
World Cricket League Division 2
In Windhoek, Namibia - Top two teams qualify for the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, which starts on March 4.
UAE fixtures
Thursday February 8, v Kenya; Friday February 9, v Canada; Sunday February 11, v Nepal; Monday February 12, v Oman; Wednesday February 14, v Namibia; Thursday February 15, final
World Cricket League Division 2
In Windhoek, Namibia - Top two teams qualify for the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, which starts on March 4.
UAE fixtures
Thursday February 8, v Kenya; Friday February 9, v Canada; Sunday February 11, v Nepal; Monday February 12, v Oman; Wednesday February 14, v Namibia; Thursday February 15, final
Killing of Qassem Suleimani