18 Under 18: Torin Yater-Wallace

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18 Under 18: Torin Yater-Wallace

Yater-Wallace, the youngest Winter X Games medalist ever, earned Ski Superpipe silver in 2011 and bronze in 2012.Tags: ESPNHS, 18 Under 18, Torin Yater-Wallace, X Games

18 Under 18: Torin Yater-Wallace

ESPNHS honors 18 male teen athletes who are doing remarkable things on the field, in the classroom and in their communities. Click here to read about them.

The X Games are known for showcasing teenage stars, but few stand out like Torin Yater-Wallace.

Last year, the 16-year-old became the youngest Winter X medalist in history when he copped a silver in the Ski Superpipe. He took his success global a few months later, winning bronze in the same event at X Games Europe. This winter, he went back to Aspen for the 2012 Winter X Games and won another bronze in Ski Superpipe.

As impressive as that is, the story behind Yater-Wallace's success might be even more incredible. Just two years ago, he was homeless, shuffling between friends' houses after some bad investments forced his father to declare bankruptcy. When his mother lost her job, they were constantly on the move.

So Yater-Wallace poured all his energy into skiing. He went from wild-card entrant at the 2010 Gatorade Free Flow Tour to the Dew Tour, which he parlayed into an X Games invite. And now he has three X Games medals, sponsorships from blue-chip companies like Target and as bright a future as anyone in action sports.

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