The legends of swimming and snowboarding worlds took a backseat from their professional career. Sporting buddies Michael Phelps and Shaun White share a close friendship that arose at the Olympic grounds. White chose his sport at 5, just two years before Phelps. Fast forward to today, the decorated athletes in their 30s achieved huge professional breakthroughs, before retiring six years apart.

White’s retirement last year is still fresh with many emotions flooding through. While even the best of us feel the blues and recently, the snowboarder opened up about his journey, adding his swimmer friend’s advice into account.

Shawn White and Michael Phelps are in the same retirement boat

To promote his most recent docuseries, White appeared in an interview with the Guardian about his retirement. The 36-year-old opened up about his feelings and everything that he connected with during his exit phase. For someone who chose a daring sport, leaving seemed harder. To grapple with new realities, he reached out to his 2016 retired friend Phelps just after his final competition at last February’s Winter Olympics.

White recapped their discussion on what to expect post-retirement, saying, “They said that I’d want to fill the void or hole that sports gave me, but I need to relax and be OK with the nothingness and I’d eventually find something to focus on.” Phelps helped the Winter Olympian identify his struggles, from what seemed to be a mutual battle between athletic stardom and career stagnancy, it was rather a mutual feeling.

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After missing his podium finish in his last game, White paired with his brother to launch a new snowboard brand, Whitespace. On the same horizon, Phelps set up his company Phelps Inc and became an advocate for conservation initiatives. Nevertheless, the two sportsmen continue to be the sole pair to garner prominence in the public eye.

Shaun White and his not so best kept secret

The two prominent icons had a lasting friendship that began 15 years back. The duo first met at the 2008 Beijing Olympics when Phelps was competing in the swimming competitions. White was there to support his friend and fellow snowboarder Hannah Teter. The two competitors clicked right away owing to their common experiences as Olympic athletes. In addition to the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, where they both served as ambassadors, they have been spotted together on various other occasions.

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In addition to sports, the two also remain supportive off-field. White attended the screening of Phelps’ documentary “The Weight of Gold,” which featured the challenges Olympic athletes face with their mental health. As for their medal tally, White won 18 X Games medals in addition to two Olympic gold medals. In contrast, Phelps broke several world records and collected 28 Olympic medals, including 23 gold ones. While sports fan honors their heroes, their friendship and legacy continue to uplift future generations.

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