Trew and Lovelace To Skate in Paris 2024

The nine-member Australian skateboarding team for the Paris 2024 Olympics has been announced by the Australian Olympic Committee today and includes NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS) athletes Ruby Trew and Olivia Lovelace.

Narrabeen local Ruby Trew has tasted podium success on the world stage, from Skateboarding Pro Tour to X-Games.

“I’m thrilled to be representing my country in Paris. It’s an amazing achievement for myself, family and supporters.

“This has been a great journey not just for me but for all my teammates. We’ve worked so hard to get to this moment so we all really want to enjoy it and support each other, it’ll be amazing in Paris.”

Ruby Trew

In the Park event, reigning Olympic champion Keegan Palmer and NSWIS alumni Kieran Woolley return for their second Games while 14-year-old Arisa Trew and 15-year-old Ruby Trew (not related) both make their Olympic debut.

Thirty-four-year-old Shane O’Neill returns for his second Olympic appearance in the Street event, alongside Olympic debutants Chloe Covell, Haylie Powell, Liv Lovelace and Keefer Wilson.

The team enters Paris with a wealth of international success, including Arisa Trew and Keegan Palmer both winning the Olympic Qualifying Series in June and 14-year-old Covell a 2023 World Championship silver medallist.

Arisa Trew, who will be 14 years 86 days when she competes in Paris, becomes the seventh youngest Australian Olympian and the youngest for 40 years since Dimity Douglas, a swimmer at Los Angeles in 1984 (aged 14 years 27 days). The youngest Australian Olympian is Ian Johnston a rower in 1960 who was aged 13 years and 74 days.

The second time skateboarding will feature at an Olympics, the nine Australian skaters will wow the world at Paris’ famed La Concorde, transformed into an urban sports park for the Games.

The skaters earned their qualification through the cut-throat Olympic Qualifying Series, with each of the athletes finishing in the top 20 to secure their place in Paris.

Qualifying nine of a maximum 12 spots, Australia will field the fourth largest skate team, behind only the US (12), Brazil (12) and Japan (10).

Australian Olympic Team Deputy Chef de Mission Kenny Wallace announced the team at Gold Coast’s Pizzey Park skate park.

“I am thrilled to announce the nine athletes who will represent Australia in Paris,” he said.

“Millions of Australians were enthralled watching the Aussie skaters’ Olympic debut in Tokyo and I am sure this team will have the whole country supporting them.

“These skaters have shown they can perform at an elite level and head into the Games with strong momentum.

Ken Wallace

“Congratulations to each of the athletes, the team at Skate Australia, and the coaches family members and supporters who have helped these athletes realise their Olympic dream.”

Tokyo Olympian Kieran Woolley is proud to make his second Olympic Team, and heads to Paris in great form with a fourth and sixth place finish at the Olympic Qualifying Series events.

“I am beyond stoked to make my second Australian Olympic Team and represent the green and gold,” said Woolley.

“The last few weeks have been super action packed and I hopefully can keep the momentum going heading into Paris.

Kieran Woolley

17-year-old Keefer Wilson has been honing his skills in a backyard ramp – 8.5 metres tall and 90 metres long, that his dad built when he was just 11. He finished eighth in the 2023 World Championships and heads to his first Games in Paris.

“To make the Olympic Team has been a dream of mine for a while now, so I am super stoked.

“I’ve been training earl every day the last few years to make the team and it’s so great to see the hard work has paid off but there is still work to be done as we get closer.

“I can’t wait to get into the village, I’m really looking forward to it.”

Skate Australia CEO Dr Caitlin Honey welcomed today’s announcement.

“Skate Australia is incredibly proud of our nine athletes who have been selected to represent Australia in Paris,” Dr. Honey said.

“Across both the Park and Street Skateboard disciplines, our athletes have been dedicated to their preparations, working to the best of their abilities.”

“Our Paris 2024 Skateboarding team will have four more athletes than the team of five that represented Australia in Tokyo, a testimony to the depth of talent amongst the Australian Skateboarding ranks.”

“I look forward to cheering on our athletes and can’t wait to see them take on the world at Place de la Concorde.”

Article courtesy of AOC