American snowboarding star Shaun White has announced that he is withdrawing from the slopestyle event at the upcoming Winter Olympics.

The 27-year-old says he has decided to quit the event because of his concerns over the safety of the slopestyle course.

Several snowboarders, including Ireland's Seamus O'Connor, have expressed reservations over the design of the course after a Norwegian competitor broke his collarbone during a practice session earlier this week.

White says that the potential risk of a serious injury was too much of a gamble for him.

White will now focus on trying to win his third consecutive gold medal on the halfpipe event.