Olympics 2021: Australia names inaugural skateboarding team

Australia’s inaugural skateboarding team has been announced, headlined by a former skating world champion and several emerging competitors.

Hayley Wilson, Australian skater (potential Olympic medallist for Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games), gets ready to go to represent her country. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Five Australian skaters will don the green and gold in Tokyo as the sport debuts at the Olympic Games.

Our inaugural skateboarding team was announced on Friday with competitors representing Australia in the four medal events on offer in Tokyo.

Shane O’Neill, 31, Keegan Palmer, 18, Poppy Starr Olsen, 21, Hayley Wilson, 19, and Kieran Woolley, 17, will compete in July for Australia.

Former skating world champion Shane O’Neill said it was an honour to be named in the team in the men’s street event.

Shane O'Neill is honoured to be part of the Olympic team heading to Tokyo. Source: Instagram

“I’m looking forward to it,” he said.

“I am super stoked to be a part of the first skateboarding event at the Olympics.

“I’d love for the Olympics to intrigue some new people to go get their first board and give it a try.

“Some enjoy it for the competition side of things but most enjoy just cruising down the street and learning tricks, so I’m hoping we can encourage people to go find out how enjoyable riding a skateboard really is.”

Poppy Starr Olsen, from Newcastle, will enter the games as Australia’s highest ranked skater.

“It is history in itself, I am very excited,” she said.

“It is super amazing to be representing Australia. I am honoured to be a part of it.

“It feels pretty surreal and amazing to become an Olympian, knowing you’ve worked so hard for something.”

Keegan Palmer is among Australia’s Olympic team.

Queensland teen Keegan Palmer said it had been a “hectic” four years since skateboarding was added to the Olympic program.

“I am ready to put on a show for our country and for everyone back home watching,” he said.

“These are hectic times, it has been a hectic four years for everyone. I’m so grateful to be a part of the first skateboarding team for Australia.”

Teenager Kieran Woolley took the announcement as a chance to thank his parents for supporting his dream.

“I would like to thank my Mum and Dad,” he said.

“I am going to do my best, hopefully bring home a medal.

“Being seventeen, I never thought at this age I would be travelling the world and going to the Olympics. I am stoked to be representing Australia.”

Five-time national champion Hayley Wilson said it was “wild” to be named and she hoped to bring home gold.

Hayley Wilson is a five-time national champion. Picture: Alex Coppel.

“I came from a small town where when I was younger I didn’t have the opportunity or facilities like there were in Melbourne, so to now be skating at the Olympics is so wild,” she said.

“I think it shows that anything is possible. To be going down in history is a feeling that can’t be described.”

Chair of Skateboard 2020 Commission Anne Marie Harrison said it was a “momentous day” for the sport.

“We are extremely proud of these five athletes,” Ms Harrison said.

Australian Chef de Mission Ian Chesterman congratulated the team.

“I think we are in great shape,” he said.

“Your sport is going to have a huge impact at these games.”

All four events will be held at the Ariake Urban Sports Park in Tokyo with the men’s street event kicking off on July 25.

Originally published as Olympics 2021: Australia names inaugural skateboarding team