SNOWBOARD great Shaun White’s withdrawal from a key Olympic qualifying event came after he experienced lingering COVID-19 symptoms, including fatigue and shortness of breath, The Associated Press has learned. A person familiar with White’s decision told AP that White’s withdrawal from Saturday night’s U.S. Grand Prix at Mammoth Mountain in California does not impact his plans to compete at next month’s Beijing Winter Games. The person requested anonymity because White has not publicly disclosed the reason for his withdrawal. Last week, White revealed he had tested positive for COVID-19 in December but had been cleared to ride in Mammoth Mountain and was on the mend. White, who had asthma as a child, said the virus was like “a lingering cold.” White joined champion skier Mikaela Shiffrin and skater Alysa Liu on the list of high-profile Olympic hopefuls to contract COVID-19 in the lead-up to the Games. The U.S. team has until Jan. 21 to name the full snowboard team. Only one man, Taylor Gold, has secured a spot, but coaches can award up to three discretionary spots on the halfpipe team and White, a three-time Olympic gold medalist who is ranked 14th in the world, meets all the conditions to receive one. White went through the first run of Saturday’s qualifying round and made it easily into the finals. But when the finals started, White was a no-show. U.S. coach Mike Jankowski said White had aggravated an ankle injury, but the person who spoke to AP said White’s ankle was not an issue and it was COVID-19 symptoms that led him to call it a night. Jankowski did not immediately return phone messages left by AP. This marked the latest setback for the 35-year-old White, who is hoping to compete in his fifth Olympics. He has been an ever-present in the U.S. Winter Olympic team since he won his first gold in Turin in 2006 as a 19-year-old. (SD-Agencies) | 