In dramatic fashion, Shaun White won the third gold medal of his career – and the 100th for Team USA in Winter Olympics history -- Tuesday in his final run on the halfpipe. He did it by landing back-to-back 1440s -- a bionic aerial with four full revolutions.
It came after White left the last Olympics empty-handed and just months after he wiped out practicing the trick and ended up with 62 stitches.
Ayumu Hirano, a 19-year-old snowboarder from Japan, became the first to land back-to-back 1440s just last month, and he proved to be stiff competition for White.
His second run was near-perfect, scoring 95.25, putting him one point up on White. But in his final run, Hirano fell, while White rose to the occasion, scoring 97.75 to bring home the gold.
White was in tears as he hugged family and friends after his score was announced.