The determination of Shaun White

There is very little that sheer determination cannot overcome. It can power you past physical ailments and emotional setbacks. It can push you beyond crushing defeat and into the glow of victory.

Just ask Shaun White. Millions instantly connect his name with dazzling international success – after all, he has three Olympic gold medals and holds the record for most X Games gold medals won by a snowboarder. But few people who see his victories know how much work Shaun put into getting to where he is today, or how many challenges he faced along the way.

In this first episode of the Tony Robbins Podcast Peak Performance season, you’ll have a front-row seat as Shaun talks about his lifelong journey to becoming one of the most successful snowboarders in history, the uphill battle back from a devastating injury and a massive loss at Sochi, and the ultimate redemption at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics. They delve into what it means to embrace risk, the importance of mental and physical fitness and why a single decision can lead you down the path to greatness.

Who is Shaun White?

Shaun White is an American snowboarder who has won three Olympic gold medals and 15 X Games gold medals, a world record. He also holds the record for the highest score in the Olympic men’s halfpipe and competed at four Winter Olympics – and he isn’t done yet. He continues training and could be the oldest half-pipe competitor of all time at the 2022 Olympics.

Shaun is best-known for snowboarding, but he’s also an accomplished skateboarder and is considered a pioneer in that sport as well. He was the first to medal at both the Winter and Summer X Games and remains the only skateboarder who has ever landed a frontside heelflip 540 body varial. There’s no doubt Shaun achieves everything he puts his mind to – and it’s a very determined mind.

Crushing life’s roadblocks

Shaun was an unlikely athlete. Born with an actual hole in his heart, he went through several operations when he was just a child. He had asthma and was supposed to live a relatively inactive life. He even admits that he hated the cold. But none of this slowed him down.

He was skateboarding by five years old and snowboarding soon after. By 13 he went pro, and began competing in everything from halfpipe to slopestyle, making a name for himself in the X Games. He’s had a champion’s mindset from a young age, saying, “From the get go, I believed I could do it. It seemed so real to me. I saw the pros and I knew I could get to that point.”

He learned early on that he needed to put in the work to reach the competitive levels he desired – and that is exactly what he did. He pushed past his health issues and began to understand what impact his had on his athletic performances. That’s how Shaun has turned would-be roadblocks into minor stops along his path to success.