Tony Hawk, Olympics and world titles: Chloe Covell resets after injury

An Olympian, X-Games champion and soon a playable character in the latest Tony Hawk game, Chloe Covell is no ordinary teen. But a broken arm has allowed her to finally reset.

An Olympian, X-Games champion and character in the latest Tony Hawk video game – Chloe Covell is no ordinary teenager.

But fracturing her arm during the SLS Super Crown final last December gave her the chance to be just that – an ordinary teen enjoying summer school holidays.

The injury was frustrating for the 15-year-old Gold Coaster – especially as she had been on track to finish on the podium at the Super Crown final.

Her line runs had her in first place.

She laid down some solid tricks and by the fifth and final trick needed to register an 8.8 to finish third.

The Red Bull sponsored athlete gave it her all but couldn’t stick the landing, falling hard on her wrist. Footage shows her grab it straight away – but it didn’t stop her from getting up and congratulating the winner.

Olympic skater Chloe Covell has set her sights on winning the SLS Super Crown this season. Picture: Ken Leanfore/Red Bull

Covell said it was the most serious injury she had had in her career so far. She spent seven weeks in a cast over the summer school holidays.

And with no immediate competition on the horizon she turned it into an opportunity to take a break.

She went fishing, jet skiing, swimming (with her arm wrapped up tight in a plastic bag), got up close and personal with some wildlife and just enjoyed quality time with family and friends.

Not something Covell has a lot of time to do once the circuit starts.

NEW FOUND FAME

Covell said she was still adjusting to life post Olympics and being a bit of a local superstar around the Gold Coast – especially at the skate parks.

“There is always kids asking for autographs and photos which is pretty cool,” she said.

“It’s a weird feeling, I think it is pretty crazy that people want to get a photo of me, but I’m also proud.”

Covell will become a much bigger name this year with the teen one of three women skaters included as new playable characters in the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 video game to be released in July.

“I found out last year, I went to America to this big Hollywood place where they film all the movies and did all the body scans and stuff, finally all the advertisements have started coming out.

“It’s an amazing thing, it’s a legendary game, it’s exciting to see myself on it.”

Olympic skater Chloe Covell has been included as a playable character on the new Tony Hawk's Pro Skater video game. Picture: Ken Leanfore/Red Bull

BACK ON THE BOARD

Once the cast was off Covell was ready to get straight back into – no fear at all about the possibility of stacking it again.

“I just had to get over it and get back on the skateboard,” Covell said.

She is no stranger to injuries.

At the beginning of last year – the first competition on the circuit in Paris – she sliced her knee open.

“It was practice, the day before the competition and I was just trying a trick and I just slipped off the ledge and my knee smacked the corner of the ledge and I had to go to the hospital and get stitches. But I still competed the next day and happened to get first place so that was pretty good,” Covell said.

It wasn’t her only win of the season, also claiming victory in Sydney.

But the Super Crown, the world title in her sport, remains elusive.

“I’ve been to two of the Super Crowns before so to win one of them would be amazing,” Covell said.

Chloe Covell in action during the Paris Olympics. Picture: Adam Head

BIG CHANGES

In order to take the next step and take the trophy home this year Covell has really increased her training, spending up to an hour in the gym each day and another two on her board.

She wasn’t to spill the beans on what specific tricks she was working on but promised she had some new tricks to show this season.

“I’m just trying to get consistent with them and learn some even harder ones, off bigger obstacles,” Covell said.

On top of the training, competitions and travel Covell is also in Year 10.

But the teen said after some lengthy discussions with her parents this year would be her last at school.

‘It’s getting pretty hard now I’ve moved into senior school, school is getting way harder,” Covell said.

“My mum, dad and I have made an agreement that I just have to try and get through this year and then I can be done with it.”

Being able to skate full time will Covell a good lead into the 2028 LA Olympics.

Covell’s SLS Super Crown title fight will start in Miami on May 3.

Originally published as Tony Hawk, Olympics and world titles: Chloe Covell resets after injury