Will this be Shaun White’s last Winter Olympics? Maybe. Or maybe not. – USA TODAY

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Notice that Shaun White said he was training for what would be his fifth Olympic Games, not his last one.

The three-time gold medalist said Tuesday he has no idea whether Beijing will be the end of his Olympic career. Hes said that before, only to find himself back in the halfpipe at the next Winter Games.

I always say it might be just because thats how it feels. And then time keeps moving on and Im thinking, 'Gosh, Im feeling pretty good, Im motivated, Im excited, and then boom! Im at the next one, the 35-year-old said Tuesday during an appearance at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committees media summit for the Beijing Games.

So I wouldnt count the next one out after this.

After winning gold again in Pyeongchang, Whites original plan for this quadrennium was the Summer Olympics. Hes equally successful as a skateboarder, and the idea of competing in his other sport when it made its Olympic debut in Tokyo was appealing.

But when the Tokyo Games were delayed by a year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, White decided he didnt want to hurt his chances for Beijing by trying for Tokyo.

Am I ready to walk away from snowboarding yet? And I just wasnt, White said of the decision. So I obviously switched gears, focus, everything back to the winter sports, and its so exciting. I cant believe were … back at it again. But it feels really good.

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Shortly after White announced that decision, in March 2020, the world effectively shut down because of COVID. Trips he would normally make to Australia and New Zealand to train werent possible because of travel restrictions.

He couldnt even get into Canada to see girlfriend Nina Dobrev, who was filming a movie there.

I tried! I was turned around, White said. I said 'Look, come on! I was at the Olympics here, you remember! I cut my hair.

Despite the disruptions it caused, White said he grew to appreciate the unexpected downtime he had during the early days of COVID. Instead of his time being consumed by training, commitments to sponsors or media interviews, he got to spend time with his family and friends.

He discovered he was handy around the house, even convincing Dobrev that they should paint their place themselves.

When youre forced out of that churn of the daily obligations and plans and all these things, youre stuck with this stillness. Gosh, I really appreciated that lesson and I think Ive carried that on with me, where Im really content where Im at, White said.

I found a lot of (contentment) during that time period. Once things started to open up again, I just felt like I still have that stillness, he added. I think Im just operating on a level of appreciation just to be back here at this.

Dobrev plays a big role in that.

White and The Vampire Diaries actress began dating in early 2020. Asked about her Tuesday, White talked about this beautiful relationship Im in.

Nina is incredible. What an influence on my life, he said. She runs her own show and her own world and companies she's involved in and things she's producing, all this stuff going on, and holds me to the same high standard, which is so wonderful to have in a partner.

Shes also a pretty good snowboarder herself.

White said hes not the best teacher or explainer of how to snowboard. Their first ride together, he took off and, when he turned around, discovered Dobrev wasnt behind him. He figured she had fallen, and was trying to decide whether he needed to hike back up the mountain to find her.

Turns out, she had passed him.

She was way faster than me! White said.

I told her, I was like, `I dont know how the field is for Bulgaria, you may have a shot. Just saying. Just saying, White said, referring to the country where Dobrev was born. Last-minute entry, Nina Dobrev, Bulgaria.

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Will this be Shaun White's last Winter Olympics? Maybe. Or maybe not. - USA TODAY