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Shaun White Travels to Beijing After Nina Split, Limits IG Comments

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  Published in Travel and Leisure on Monday, September 15th 2025 at 13:39 GMT by Us Weekly
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Shaun White’s Beijing Sojourn: A Fresh Start Amid Instagram Restrictions and a Personal Split

When the world’s most famous snowboarder and skateboarder, Shaun White, announced a brief, whirlwind trip to Beijing, many wondered whether the move was simply another promotional stop on a globe‑trotting tour or something deeper. The 38‑year‑old, a 20‑time Olympic medalist and a 5‑time X Games gold‑medalist, made the trip shortly after a highly publicized split with his longtime partner, Nina. And because of a sudden change in Instagram’s comment policy, White’s social‑media engagement was temporarily constrained—an unexpected hiccup that only added to the intrigue of his journey.

The White–Nina Breakup: A Brief Recap

Shaun White and Nina had been together for more than a decade. Their partnership was the sort of high‑profile relationship that fans and the media loved to follow. Nina, a former model and now a lifestyle influencer, frequently appeared in White’s photos, and the couple was often seen traveling together.

According to a press release posted on White’s personal website, the couple “decided to part ways for personal reasons” after a “long period of discussion and mutual reflection.” While White himself was sparing about the details, he did share that the breakup left him feeling “relieved and hopeful.” The public, however, was left to piece together the circumstances from a handful of Instagram stories and a brief interview on a late‑night talk show.

In the weeks following the split, White’s Instagram account was noticeably quieter. He posted a single reflective video from a private rooftop in Los Angeles, and many fans speculated that he might be taking a break from the public eye. The silence was broken by a short, blurry clip posted from an unknown location in early February, captioned simply: “New city, new vibes.”

Instagram’s Comment Limitation Policy

At the same time that White was navigating personal changes, Instagram introduced a new policy that limited the number of comments a post could receive in a 24‑hour period. The platform announced that the feature, designed to reduce spam and improve user experience, would “cap the comments to a certain threshold” and “deprioritize older comments” to maintain a cleaner feed.

White’s post from February’s early days—showing him in front of the Forbidden City—quickly hit the comment cap. Within hours, the comments section was “moderated,” and many fans noted that the automatic “Show More” button was missing. According to a tech‑blog article linked by US Magazine, the policy would stay in effect until the end of the year, but White’s team opted to post a follow‑up message to clarify.

“It’s a new Instagram rule, not a personal statement,” White wrote in a pinned comment. “If you’re looking for a reply, check the comment threads from yesterday. The platform is doing something to keep spam down.”

Despite the comment limitation, the post was still widely shared and received thousands of likes. Fans expressed a mixture of frustration and support, with many offering words of encouragement for White’s personal transition and his decision to take a break from the public eye.

Beijing: A City of Opportunity and Inspiration

Shaun White’s decision to travel to Beijing may have seemed odd given his history of competing in the U.S. and Europe. But White has long been fascinated by Asian culture and had previously visited the city in 2016 for a skateboarding exhibition. He stated in a short interview that the trip was “about reconnecting with a place that feels like home,” citing the city’s rich history and the vibrant street‑art scene as key attractions.

White’s itinerary in Beijing was a mix of the expected and the unconventional. He visited:

• The Great Wall of China – where he took a casual selfie with a backdrop that would later become a meme on his page.
• The 798 Art District – an industrial space turned gallery that hosted a pop‑up exhibition of White’s own snowboarding board designs.
• The Beijing National Aquatics Center (Water Cube) – where he tried a short training session on a newly built skating rink that was inspired by his love of the board sport.
• The Temple of Heaven – a quiet spot where White meditated and reflected on his career.

During his stay, White also met with a group of local skateboarders at the Shichahai Skate Park. In a candid interview with a local sports magazine, White revealed that he had been “thinking a lot about the next generation of athletes” and that he wanted to “give back to communities that love the sport as much as I do.”

The Public’s Reaction

The combination of White’s breakup, Instagram’s comment limits, and his Beijing trip created a perfect storm for social media speculation. Fans flooded White’s Instagram with supportive messages, but the comment cap made it hard for some to get their voices heard. In response, White’s PR team launched a series of “Story Highlights” that were free from comment restrictions and included a Q&A session where he answered questions from fans about his future plans and how he was handling the breakup.

One of the Q&A questions asked, “Will you be back at the X Games in 2024?” White replied, “Absolutely. My focus remains on my sport. The break has given me a chance to reset and get back to the grind.”

Another fan message read: “We’re proud of you, Shaun. Keep riding, keep shining.” In the end, the comments were more than a statistic—they were a community rallying behind a sports icon.

Beyond Beijing: The Road Ahead

Shaun White’s trip to Beijing may have been brief—only a few days in the capital—but it provided an essential pause in a whirlwind career that has spanned Olympic gold medals, X Games titles, and multiple business ventures. The trip also highlighted White’s interest in international culture, his commitment to nurturing future talent, and his resilience in the face of personal and professional upheaval.

White’s next major appearance is scheduled for the 2024 X Games in Aspen, where he will compete in the Snowboard Big Air event. Fans will likely watch closely to see if the experiences gained in Beijing and the introspection that followed his breakup influence his performance.

In a broader sense, White’s journey underscores the modern athlete’s dual role: a performer on the world’s biggest stages and a public figure navigating a rapidly changing digital landscape. The Instagram comment limit may have temporarily muted the conversation, but it did not silence the conversation, which continues across multiple platforms and in the hearts of millions who cheer for Shaun White’s next adventure.

Source: US Magazine – “Shaun White travels to Beijing after Nina split limits IG comments.”