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Shaun White Withdraws From Slopestyle In Sochi

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U.S. snowboarder Shaun White speaks during a press conference at Gorky Media Center the Rosa Khutor Alpine Centre on February 5, 2014. White admitted on February 3 that Sochi's daunting slopestyle course which has already claimed two injury victims presented an 'intimidating' challenge. (Alberto Pizzoli/AFP/Getty Images)
U.S. snowboarder Shaun White speaks during a press conference at Gorky Media Center the Rosa Khutor Alpine Centre on February 5, 2014. White admitted on February 3 that Sochi's daunting slopestyle course which has already claimed two injury victims presented an 'intimidating' challenge. (Alberto Pizzoli/AFP/Getty Images)

American snowboarder Shaun White has announced he's pulling out of the slopestyle competition in Sochi, in order to focus solely on winning a third straight gold medal in the halfpipe.

After jamming his left wrist in a slopestyle practice yesterday, the 27-year-old snowboarder said the potential risk of injury was too high, and he did not want to jeopardize his chances of achieving his other Olympic goals.

White is among several riders complaining about unsafe conditions on the course for the brand new Olympic event. His withdrawal is yet another blow to the Sochi Olympics, which have been wracked by security threats and political fighting.

Here & Now's Robin Young discusses the update with NPR's Robert Smith and the BBC's Alex Capstick.

Shaun White trains during Snowboard Slopestyle practice at the Extreme Park at Rosa Khutor Mountain ahead of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics on February 3, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Al Bello/Getty Images)
Shaun White trains during Snowboard Slopestyle practice at the Extreme Park at Rosa Khutor Mountain ahead of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics on February 3, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Al Bello/Getty Images)

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This segment aired on February 5, 2014.

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