Shaun White: How he's helping his physio through cancer - "I love her so much"

The emotional bond between Shaun White and his physio Dr. Esther Lee has been healing for both of them. The snowboard legend has helped her through a cancer diagnosis, she's helped him to Olympic glory.

The tears welled up in Shaun White's eyes as he held his long-time physio Dr. Esther Lee.

"I couldn't have done it without you, so, thank you, every step of the way, you're the best," the three-time snowboard Olympic gold medallist told Esther Lee.

They're together, speaking to Olympics.com at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games where White was aiming for a mind-blowing fourth snowboard halfpipe gold.

Neither of them probably would have made it to Beijing without the other.

As White's physio, Lee has helped him be in physical shape at 35 to compete with the next-gen teen prodigies shredding the snowboard scene.

For his part, White has helped his close friend and physio hugely since Lee's cancer diagnosis.

"In July 2020, I got diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer," says Lee.

"And it was a shock, I mean, I grew up my whole life feeling like this very healthy athletic person.

"I was like, oh my God, I think I might have weeks to live because my grandmother had pancreatic cancer and she died two weeks later.

"Shaun was one of the first people I called...

"I'll always remember I was standing in this field and he was like, 'did you get COVID?' And I was like, well no, actually, I got cancer... and we just sat on the phone and cried for... I don't know how long."

While the dream of a fourth gold medal didn't happen for White in Beijing, Esther's journey has helped him put things in perspective.

When Olympics.com asked if he wanted to say something about Esther he didn't hold back:

"Hell yeah, Esther is the best, I love her so much, I'm so happy to have her here with me, I couldn't have done it without you, so, thank you, every step of the way, you're the best."