50-Year-Old Skateboarder Andy Macdonald Joins Teen Teammates for 2024 Olympics!
Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks? 🛹 At 50 years young, skateboarding legend Andy Macdonald is set to make his Olympic debut at the 2024 Summer Games in Paris!
Macdonald, a proud father of three from California, will be shredding alongside teammates who are younger than his own son. Joining forces with 15-year-old Sky Brown, a 2020 Olympic bronze medalist and world champion, and 16-year-old rising star Lola Tambling, Andy is bringing his A-game to Team Britain.
\"It feels pretty surreal,\" he told Reuters. \"I never thought that I would actually qualify for the Games. When I started this process two-and-a-half years ago, it was mostly just like this experiment of 'yeah, maybe I can compete with 14-year-olds when I'm 50'.\"
Known for his mastery of the half-pipe vert ramp, Macdonald is switching gears to compete in park skating—a faster, high-flying discipline using a three-dimensional bowl. He secured his spot at the last qualifier in Budapest, proving age is just a number.
\"I have much more experience in skating competitions and what it takes to mentally and physically prepare,\" he said. \"They have the advantage in their youth. They can fall really hard and just bounce right up. If I fell that hard, I would be out for, like, two weeks!\" 😂
But it's not just about the tricks. Andy is embracing the energy and excitement his young teammates bring. \"I have a lot of insight as far as technique and different trick variations that maybe they haven't thought of yet,\" he added. \"I feed off their youth and their energy because I just try to keep up. I'm 50 years old, and when they get all excited, 'Let's go, let's go, keep skating,' I'm like, 'Yeah, but I gotta go pick up the kids from school!'\" 🤣
Macdonald's journey is a testament to passion and perseverance. His story reminds us all that dreams don't have an expiration date. So whether you're a seasoned skater or just starting out, Andy's message is clear: keep pushing, stay young at heart, and never stop chasing the thrill! 💫
Reference(s):
50-year-old skateboarder Andy Macdonald into 2024 Summer Olympics
cgtn.com
