Harry How/Getty ImagesTwo-time Olympic gold medalist Shaun White will no longer compete in the slopestyle event debuting in Sochi's Winter Olympics, citing the risk of injury associated with the course.
"After much deliberation with my team, I have made the decision to focus solely on trying to bring home the third straight gold medal in halfpipe for Team USA," the 27-year-old snowboarder tells NBC's Today in a statement. "The difficult decision to forego slopestyle is not one I take lightly as I know how much effort everyone has put into holding the slopestyle event for the first time in Olympic history, a history I had planned on being a part being a part of."
White jammed his left wrist during a practice run on the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park course on Tuesday.
"With the practice runs I have taken, even after course modifications and watching fellow athletes get hurt, the potential risk of injury is a bit too much for me to gamble my other Olympics goals on," White explained. He told ESPN the practice course was "a little intimidating," adding, "It's been a challenge."
The athlete is now focusing his attention on the men's halfpipe. Should White succeed, he'll become the first American man to win three Olympic gold medals in a single event. He currently holds the X-Games records for the most gold medals and highest overall medal count.
White previously passed on the 2014 Winter X Games to in order train for the 2014 Winter Olympics.
(E! and Today are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)
Don't forget! E! begins broadcasting from Sochi starting Feb. 7!