The breakout star of the Olympics is definitely Sky Brown. As the youngest British Olympian in the competition, she’s competing in skateboarding for Britain… and everyone has tons of questions.
Who is Skateboarder Sky Brown?
According to Google Trends, ‘Skateboarder Sky Brown’ is currently a breakout search term as well as ’13 year old skateboarder’ and 'Young British girl skateboarder'. Questions like ‘Who is Sky Brown?’ are rife, as well as some seemingly confused about her Anglo Japanese nationality – problematically asking ‘Where is Sky Brown from?’ and ‘Why is Sky Brown competing for Great Britain’.
We’ll tell you why, because she’s just as British as she is Japanese. Sky was born to a British father and Japanese mother, although she currently splits her time living between Japan and the US. We’re lucky to have her competing for us then, because she’s a prodigy if you ever saw one.
Grazia interviewed her earlier this year, where the then 12-year-old admitted she begged her parents to let her compete in the Olympics after they worried it would be too much pressure.
‘I want to go to the Olympics to inspire girls,’ she explained. ‘When I go to the skatepark everyone’s like, “Naah, she can’t do it because she’s a girl!” I kind of like it when they do. It makes you want to prove them wrong.’
When is Sky Brown competing?
Skateboarding is one of four sports that will debut at the 2021 Olympics after a long slog hoping to get the sport qualified. Sky Brown will compete in the ‘Women’s Park’ event, which will air in the UK on the 5th August between 1am-5.40am BST.
Her dad, who’s also her coach, will be coming to Tokyo. ‘I’m still pretty young so just having my dad there is nice,’ she told Grazia. Since he was a skater too, she got into the sport very young. ‘I’d always grab his board,’ she continued. ‘It was my favourite toy. I’d love sitting on my butt, riding on it. I was playing with it since I was a baby, but I stood up on it when I was three.’
No wonder she’s already competing in the Olympics!
How did Sky Brown do in the final?
At just 13 years (and 28 days) old, Sky won the bronze medal at the women's skateboarding event. This victory makes Brown Great Britian's youngest ever medallist. She also replaces Sarah Hardcastle as Britain's youngest summer games medallist.
The teenager qualified in second place at the Ariake Urban Sports Park. She went into the final with 8 other female skateboarders to battle for the win.
Brown made a few mistakes in the first two of of her three attempts and was firmly in fourth place going into her last run.
However, she pushed forward during her last attempt and landed a kick flip indy - the same trick that led to her falling during her first two runs - with a score of 56.47.
The teenagers's mask could not hide her huge grin whilst standing on the podium at the Ariake Urban Sports Park. "I'm so stoked!" she said after the win, "I can't believe it. It was like a dream."
Her win is even more impressive given Sky's almost life changing accident that would have kept her out of the Olympics. In May 2020 she had a serious crash between two ramps while attempting a jump - she fractured her skull and broke her left arm and wrist.
When questioned what she would be doing now the Olympics are over the teenager replied: " Hang out with friends and party."
And why not? After all, she deserves it.
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