Shaun White ripped to shreds for what he did to American flag after winning gold
Shaun White set the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang ablaze Wednesday morning (Tuesday night in the U.S.) when he jumped in front of Japan’s Ayumu Hirano with an impressive 97.75 on his final run to win the gold medal in the halfpipe.
White became the first American male to win gold in three different Winter Games (Turin 2006, Vancouver 2010 and Pyeongchang 2018).
REDEMPTION FOR SHAUN WHITE!
HE WINS GOLD on his final run in men's snowboard halfpipe! #BestOfUS #WinterOlympics https://t.co/E1XuTKbGvd pic.twitter.com/b4Yn2jVVGN
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 14, 2018
The victory was sweet redemption for White as he failed to medal in the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, calling the feeling, “the worst thing I could have imagined.“
Not only did he set an individual record in the Games, but it also marked the 100th time an American had won a gold medal in the Winter Olympics.
But the American pride in White’s victory quickly dissipated when he was handed an American flag during his celebration.
Shaun White faces backlash after dragging, stepping on U.S. flag during celebration https://t.co/0nmkRSxTxX pic.twitter.com/pSAU0ngaUh
— WFAA (@wfaa) February 14, 2018
White waved the flag as he was overcome with the emotion of seeing all of his hard work pay off.
But as he celebrated in the snow, he let the flag drag behind him, even stepping on it at one point.
Congrats @shaunwhite – Now can you stop dragging our flag on the ground and stepping on it, please? Show some respect. pic.twitter.com/OjeeM7Melt
— Nathan (@RealAntiWoke) February 14, 2018
That infuriated many observers, who took to social media to express outrage.
Shaun White is dragging the American flag on the ground, stepping all over it.
— Charean Williams (@NFLCharean) February 14, 2018
https://twitter.com/gitmo62/status/963622256772567050
Proud to see @shaunwhite grab the gold… wish they wouldn’t drag our flag across the ground… blame the Marine in me but minimal effort would show a lot of respect 🤷🏻♂️ #OlympicGames
— Joey Jones (@Johnny_Joey) February 14, 2018
#ShaunWhite Next time you win have some decency and pick up the flag instead of dragging it and stepping on it. This is so disrespectful pic.twitter.com/GNM9eHzXDd
— α∂яιαи νєяα⚡️™ (@adrianvera__16) February 14, 2018
White apologized Wednesday afternoon, saying he was unaware of his actions.
“I remember being handed the flag but I was trying to put my gloves on and hold the flag and get board,” he said. “Honestly, if there was anything, I definitely didn’t mean any disrespect. The flag that’s flying on my house right now is way up there. So sorry for that. But I’m definitely proud — very proud — to be a part of Team USA and being an American and to be representing for everyone back home.”
Shaun White just won the United States' 100th Winter Olympics gold medal of all time https://t.co/sb6NDE5QpI
— TIME (@TIME) February 14, 2018
According to U.S. Flag Code, “The flag should never touch the ground or anything beneath it, and should be raised and lowered briskly.”
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