Ayumu Hirano
Kamila Valieva, of the Russian Olympic Committee, trains at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
EXPLAINER: Halfway through Olympics, what's happened so far?

By The Associated Press Feb. 12, 2022 11:55 PM EST

Japan's Ayumu Hirano competes during the men's halfpipe finals at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 11, 2022, in Zhangjiakou, China. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Hirano wins Olympic gold, and saves snowboarding from a mess

By Pat Graham Feb. 11, 2022 03:58 AM EST

Gold medal winner Japan's Ayumu Hirano celebrates after the men's halfpipe finals at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 11, 2022, in Zhangjiakou, China. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
4th place can't spoil White's Olympic goodbye: 'I'm not sad'

By Eddie Pells Feb. 10, 2022 10:17 PM EST

3-time halfpipe champion Shaun White finishes 4th in his final Olympics; Ayumu Hirano of Japan wins gold

Feb. 10, 2022 09:57 PM EST
ZHANGJIAKOU, China (AP) — 3-time halfpipe champion Shaun White finishes 4th in his final Olympics; Ayumu Hirano of Japan wins gold. ...

Christopher Grotheer, of Germany, finishes the men's skeleton run 4 at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 11, 2022, in the Yanqing district of Beijing. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
Olympics Live: IOC won't act on 'No War in Ukraine' sign

Feb. 10, 2022 08:29 PM EST

FILE - Shaun White, of the United States, celebrates winning gold after his run during the men's halfpipe finals at Phoenix Snow Park at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Feb. 14, 2018. The Beijing Olympics will be the fifth Olympics for the three-time gold medalist. And the last Olympics for the 35-year-old — get this — elder-statesman who is now more than double the age of some of the riders he goes against. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File)
One more Olympic ride: End means a new beginning for White

By Eddie Pells Feb. 01, 2022 03:11 AM EST

FILE - Ayumu Hirano, of Japan, makes a qualifying run on the halfpipe Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021, during a U.S. Grand Prix snowboarding event at Copper Mountain, Colo. Long filled with potential, but only Ayumu Hirano's two silver medals to show for it over the past decade, a crew of Japanese riders appears poised to take over the halfpipe in Beijing with four bona fide gold-medal contender. (AP Photo/Hugh Carey, File)
Chairmen of the boards: Japanese team powerful in halfpipe

By Pat Graham Jan. 24, 2022 01:24 PM EST

FILE - Scotty James, of Australia, rides during the men's snowboard halfpipe at the Phoenix Snow Park at he Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games in South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2018. James has come a long way since his dad bought him a $10 snowboard from a shop that was using it as a doorstop. He’s won three world championship titles, six World Cup races and six Winter X medals, including three gold. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press via AP, File)
In private halfpipe, Aussie boarder schemes for Beijing gold

By Pat Graham Jan. 20, 2022 01:05 PM EST

Shaun White of the United States, flies in the air during the final run of the snowboard halfpipe competition at the Laax Open, on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, in Laax, Switzerland. White finished third, marking his first podium finish since he won his third Olympic gold medal in 2018 and all but cementing his spot at next month’s games in Beijing. (Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone via AP)
With Olympics waiting, White climbs the podium in Laax

By Eddie Pells Jan. 15, 2022 01:39 PM EST

FILE - Shaun White, of the United States, is shown after his third run in the snowboarding halfpipe finals, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, during the Dew Tour at Copper Mountain, Colo. Shaun White is likely heading to the Olympics for a fifth time. For the first time, the snowboarding star and three-time gold medalist on the halfpipe won't be the favorite. (AP Photo/Hugh Carey, File)
Shaun White all but wraps up spot in his 5th Olympics

Jan. 13, 2022 10:11 AM EST

Shaun White, of United States, reacts after stumbling on his third run in the halfpipe finals Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021, during the U.S. Grand Prix snowboarding event at Copper Mountain, Colo. (AP Photo/Hugh Carey)
White finishes 8th, ticket still unpunched for 5th Olympics

By Eddie Pells Dec. 11, 2021 05:21 PM EST