Poppy Starr Olsen: COVID-19 keeps Newcastle pro-skater at home in ahead of the Tokyo Olympics
She’s among the top female skateboarders in the world and is anxiously awaiting to get back to competitions to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics next year, but is “confident” she’ll make the cut.
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Things have been pretty quiet for Newcastle pro-skateboarder Poppy Starr Olsen.
The 20-year-old has been home since February, awaiting word on when she’ll get to compete in her next qualifiers ahead of the Tokyo Olympics which were postponed until next year.
Hanging out at her local, the Bar Beach bowl, she has been fighting for a spot to practice her trade.
“It’s actually got really busy since COVID-19, year seven and eight kids use it as a hang out,” she said.
“Been skating, surfing, it has been a bit cold but downtime has been really nice, I have been working on a website in art and keeping busy.
“This is the longest I have been in Newcastle since I moved here six years.
“That’s been interesting but it’s been really nice being home for a bit.”
The talented pro-skater is currently sitting in a “confident” fourth spot behind two Japanese and a Britain skateboarder and is the only female Australian in the top 20 in park skateboarding.
Her next qualifiers are scheduled for Rio de Janeiro and Huntington Beach in America but the question still remains when that’ll be.
“They haven’t put out the dates for them next year because we’re not sure when we can travel again,” she added.
“Possibly travel January, February next year for competitions, but we’ll see.”
With COVID restrictions in place, Poppy said she’s been missing all her skating buddies.
“A lot of my friends that I skate with are in different places around Australia, and I’m not getting to skate with them,” she added.
But one thing keeping her busy has been becoming an ambassador and taking part in the Olympics Unleashed program.
It’s an initiative by the Australian Olympic Committee and Optus that connects Olympians and aspiring Olympians with students across the country.
The program has transitioned online during the pandemic and continues to connect athletes with schools, so they can inspire school students and share messages about overcoming challenges during the COVID period.
Poppy gets the chance to go back to her old primary school, Bronte Public School.
“Talking to the kids about my story so far, the Olympics being postponed, how I started and how I was able to afford my trips overseas,” she explained.
“I love Bronte so much and even to see the teachers again is great.”
And while it might be some time before Poppy gets to compete once again, and then hopefully qualify for next year’s Olympics, she’s got her eye on podium glory.
“Podium would be ideal, in the finals and snag a spot on the podium would be very hard to do that.” she said.
“In every competition I just want to do my best and I can never be bummed if I try my hardest.
“There’s a lot of amazing skateboarders.”