Nina Dobrev said she 'couldn't be more proud' of Shaun White after his final Olympics. Here's a timeline of their 2-year relationship.
- US Olympic snowboarder Shaun White missed out on a medal in his fifth and final Olympics.
- After he competed, his girlfriend, actress Nina Dobrev, called him "a true hero."
After US Olympic snowboarder Shaun White missed out on a medal in his fifth and final Olympics last week, he had the support of the nation — and of his girlfriend, actress Nina Dobrev.
"I am in awe of you," she wrote on Instagram. "I couldn't be more proud. Of everything you have accomplished over the last 20+ years as a competitor and the man you have become. You are one of a kind. You are a true hero and you inspire me daily," she added.
In February 2022, a source told Page Six that they wouldn't be surprised if the couple got engaged soon.
"They are so freaking cute and solid together," said the source. "I would not be surprised if an engagement happens any day now."
Here's a look back at Dobrev and White's relationship, which became Instagram official in May 2020, but actually started in late 2019.
July 2012: White and Dobrev are photographed together for the first time at the Teen Choice Awards
That year, White — who had already won two gold medals — presented the cast of "The Vampire Diaries" with the Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Show: Sci-Fi/Fantasy. It's unclear if White and Dobrev had met before this, but it's their first professional photo together.
Late 2019: White and Dobrev meet (again) at a Tony Robbins event in Florida and go on their first date
According to People, the two met at an event set up by motivational speaker Tony Robbins in Florida. They each gave presentations and went on their first date after.
"I actually didn't know anything about her," said White in January 2022.
He recounted the story of how, when they walked into the restaurant, he assumed that people were coming up to take pictures with him — but, funnily enough, they were actually there for Dobrev.
December 31, 2019: They spend New Year's Eve together
It wasn't known publicly at the end of 2019 that the two were seeing each other, but in December 2020, Dobrev shared a photo from the end of 2019 that showed her wearing "2020" glasses beside White. She also shared a video of them attempting to perform a "Dirty Dancing"-style lift before Dobrev falls to the ground.
She captioned the uploads, "how we thought 2020 would go how it actually went.
February 2020: They spark dating rumors after separately sharing photos from a vacation in South Africa
From February 25 to 28, White was posting photos from South Africa. Meanwhile, Dobrev had been there for over a month filming a project.
We'd later find out that the speculation was right — White was there visiting Dobrev on the set of "Redeeming Love."
March 2020: They're photographed together while biking in Malibu
Just a few weeks into the beginning of the pandemic, White and Dobrev were spotted in public for the first time while taking a bike ride in Malibu, Us Weekly reported.
Page Six also reported that the two were spotted kissing before hopping on the bikes.
April 2020: Us Weekly breaks the news that the two are dating amid a video that appears to show the two cleaning groceries together
On April 18, Dobrev posted a video of her and White, but White's face is unseen — instead, White pretends to be Dobrev's arms as she attempts to wash her groceries.
That day, a source confirmed to Us Weekly that the two were dating and were "enjoying their time together."
"Nina really likes Shaun and they both laugh a lot together and think each other is funny," the source added.
May 2020: They go Instagram official after Dobrev gives White an at-home haircut, and reports surface that they are living together
Dobrev captioned the photo of her holding scissors with a very concerned White, "Adding to resume: hairdresser."
White posted a video of the haircut, as well.
Us Weekly reported that the two were living together due to the pandemic speeding up their relationship.
"Shaun and Nina have really been enjoying quarantining and living together," the source told Us Weekly. "They're super compatible and both free-spirited people. They're very comfortable around each other and both supportive of one another in their fields."
August 2020: They go to Cabo together and engage in lots of PDA
As usual, a source told Us Weekly that the two were loving their vacation time together.
"Nina and Shaun have gotten really close during the quarantine and have been having the best time traveling together," said the source. "They're constantly laughing with each other and Shaun is super happy and loving life."
September 2020: Dobrev posted a selfie for White's birthday, joking that 'one day you will accomplish something'
For White's 34th birthday on September 3, Dobrev posted a sweet selfie of the two, captioned "to the most untalented, humorless, least athletic, least coordinated, least gifted and my least favorite person.... happy birthday @shaunwhite.
hang in there. one day you will accomplish something. #dontgiveup."
Obviously, the "Love Hard" actress was kidding, as White is the most decorated snowboarder in Olympic history with three gold medals to his name.
November 2020: They do their first (American) Thanksgiving together
Dobrev is Canadian, but that didn't stop her from taking in the American tradition of Thanksgiving with White's family. In his post from the weekend, he included a video of Dobrev dancing, a photo of them drinking wine, and wrote that he was "so thankful to be surrounded by so much love."
December 2020: They embark on a road trip to Zion National Park together and celebrate the holidays
In early December, the two visited Zion National Park in Utah, including the famous Angels Landing rock formation.
Later in the month, both White and Dobrev shared photos of their Christmas and New Year's Eve celebrations. Dobrev also participated in an Instagram challenge where fans asked her to post different photos. One follower asked for the first photo Dobrev and White took together, which ended up being a Polaroid selfie.
January 2021: They celebrate Dobrev's birthday together
"Too bad we never have any fun together ... Happy birthday baby!" White wrote to celebrate Dobrev's 32nd birthday, along with a series of photos documenting their '80s-themed ski day.
February 2021: They go on a snowboarding double date with Dobrev's 'The Vampire Diaries' co-star Paul Wesley and his wife
Dobrev shared a selfie with White, Wesley — whom she famously hated at first on the set of "TVD" — and Wesley's wife, Ines de Ramon.
"Sometimes you gotta double up to double down," Dobrev wrote.
The four went snowboarding (skiing, in de Ramon's case) at Wyoming's popular ski destination Jackson Hole. In White's post, he joked about their vampire past, writing, "So fun taking these guys riding! Must have had their daylight rings on."
Later that month, both White and Dobrev posted photos celebrating Valentine's Day — each noting how much Dobrev licks White in photos.
June 2021: White shares that he's been watching a lot of 'TVD' and talks about their one-year anniversary
"As we were getting to know each other, I was like, 'Oh, I should check this show out,'" White told Us Weekly of taking on the eight seasons of "TVD." He continued, "There's a lot of episodes. Not that I was mad about it, but I didn't realize, like, how deep I was going to go. Because seasons now are, like, oh, 10 episodes. These are, like, 23 episodes a season. And I was in it!"
He added that, for their anniversary, he wanted to recreate the first date they'd been on, but the place was closed. After some "sweet talk," he convinced the owner to open it up.
September 2021: Dobrev posts on Instagram for White's birthday
"The person in this photo is the funniest, most charming, sexiest, and hardest working person I know. The other person is my boyfriend. Happy birthday baby, thank you for always being older than me. @shaunwhite," she joked on White's 35th birthday.
October 2021: Dobrev reveals during an Architectural Digest video that she and White painted the exterior of her house together
"The house used to be, actually, like a yellowy-mustard color, which was very typical for a lot of Spanish-style homes, but I'd always wanted to paint it white," Dobrev says in the video. "And for the first time, I found myself having no excuse, and my boyfriend and I painted the whole exterior of the house ourselves — and it took forever."
"Let's just say on day one or two, we were really excited, and by day three or four — and into the first month — I was like, 'What have I gotten myself into?'" she added. But the crafty couple did finish!
October 2021: They dress up as 'Queen's Gambit' characters for Halloween
"your move @anyataylorjoy," wrote White, tagging the show's star.
Dobrev also posted a series of photos of the two, along with her friend Adam Devine as a chess piece.
January 2022: For Dobrev's 33rd birthday, White keeps it simple
White simply captioned his Instagram gallery "Happy Birthday you hot mess @nina." She commented "Omggggg."
Later that month, Dobrev began popping up in many of White's TikToks.
January 2022: White praises how 'supportive' Dobrev is, while Dobrev says she's 'really excited' he made the Olympic team
White confirmed that he and Dobrev were in South Africa together because White was visiting her on set. "That was actually how we kind of started our relationship," he told Us Weekly.
Dobrev invited him to visit, and he followed through.
"I was like, 'All right. Yeah. OK,'" he said, and she thought, "'Oh, this guy, he came to play. He's serious.'"
Of his preparations for the 2022 Olympics, he said, "She's just been so incredibly supportive. She's like, 'Hey, I'm here to help you … how do I help you?' It's not about her. She's just been so giving in that sense."
Around the same time, Dobrev told E! that "I am really excited for him" to make it on the team.
"Just to get into the Olympics at all is one of the hugest accomplishments, let alone to get in five times. I'm so excited. I'm so proud of him," she said.
February 2022: White shares that Dobrev hid photos of friends and family in his bag ahead of the Olympics
Since friends and family weren't allowed to attend the Olympics in Beijing, Dobrev went above and beyond to help bring a slice of the US to China for White. In a February 6 TikTok video, White showed all the photos and notes Dobrev had hidden throughout his stuff.
"I have been finding these pictures, Nina hid all of these in my bag, and in my shoes, my carry-on ... just pictures of friends and family with little notes letting me know that they're cheering me on from afar, which is really great. I miss everyone," he said.
White also shared that Dobrev "made this incredible video of all my friends and family" before he went to Beijing. "My sendoff to China was just so beautiful," he said.
February 2022: After White comes in fourth place in the halfpipe, Dobrev calls him 'a true hero'
While White was preparing to compete in the men's halfpipe, Dobrev regularly shared messages of support and photos from Beijing on her Instagram page. Before the finals on February 11, she shared an image of the couple with the message, "did I mention I already won the gold with you? show em' how it's done, you fu#%ing stud."
At the finals, after taking a fall, White came in fourth place. Dobrev later shared public words of encouragement.
"Today we are celebrating you. Your hard work. Your passion. Your determination. Your talent. Your class. Your fearlessness. Your courage. Your soul. Your heart. YOUR LEGACY," she wrote on Instagram. "I couldn't be more proud. Of everything you have accomplished over the last 20+ years as a competitor and the man you have become. You are one of a kind. You are a true hero and you inspire me daily.
"The end of one chapter, means the beginning of an exciting new one with endless possibilities.
"You will forever be the G.O.A.T. of snowboarding. Not to mention you are also the G.(B).O.A.T. = Greatest Boyfriend Of All Time."
The couple has since returned to the US.