Sky Brown, 16, is ‘shoo-in’ to win skateboard gold for Team GB in Paris but will try compete in different sport in 2028
SKY’S got no limit.
That’s the message from her two Team GB skateboarding team-mates heading out to Paris for the Olympics.
Both Andy Macdonald and Lola Tambling are backing Sky Brown to take home a gold medal – three years on from her bronze medal as a 13-year-old in Tokyo.
Brown turned 16 earlier in July and is the youngest member of Team GB’s squad for the second Olympics running.
But while she claimed a third-place finish last time out, the expectation for the reigning world champion and two-time X Games winner is nothing short of gold.
Macdonald, who turns 51 on the day he travels to Paris, said: “Sky Brown is at the top of the list. She’s a shoo-in for a gold medal this year.
“It was cool to see her at qualifying in Budapest because she got second place and I was watching her runs thinking, ‘She’s not even trying, she’s got way more.’
“I can’t wait to watch her at the show in Paris, it’ll be neat to see.
“She’ll go on to achieve whatever she wants, whatever she decides.
“She’s just super talented and just like any teenage girl just having fun dancing, partying with her friends and luckily for her getting to travel around the world.”
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Japan-born, California-based Brown wanted to compete in both park skateboarding and surfing at Paris 2024 – but just missed out on qualifying on the waves this time around and instead will try again for her ‘home’ Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028.
But Macdonald reckons there is no end to the talent and potential of Sky – as well as her younger brother Ocean who is also a skateboarder and surfer.
Macdonald – who angered the Secret Service when he skateboarded through the White House – added: “Sky’s bigger than skateboarding.
“She’s just a unicorn – Sky can do whatever she wants on a skateboard, on a surfboard, whatever.
“If she wants to be a pro surfer she’s going to go off and do that. She missed the surfing team by one place and was GB’s first alternate.
“If she wants to get into motocross next week, I’m sure she could learn backflips on motorcycles.
“Her brother’s right behind her. She’s got a younger brother Ocean who’s going to be able to do whatever he wants as well.
“On the guy’s side, it’s a bit more competitive skateboarding-wise but that whole family is just like the epitome of the next-generation action sports family.”
BBC's Olympics line-up in full
Presenters:
- Clare Balding
- Gabby Logan
- Hazel Irvine
- Isa Guha
- Jeanette Kwakye
- JJ Chalmers
- Mark Chapman
Studio guests:
- Beth Tweddle
- Chris Hoy
- Denise Lewis
- Fred Sirieix
- Jessica Ennis-Hill
- Kate Richardson-Walsh
- Katherine Grainger
- Laura Kenny
- Mark Foster
- Michael Johnson
- Nicola Adams
- Rebecca Adlington
- Tonia Couch
Radio:
- Adrian Chiles
- Eleanor Oldroyd
- Kelly Cates
- Mark Chapman
- Naga Munchetty
- Tony Livesey
Cornwall’s Tambling started skateboarding eight years ago when her parents, including pro BMXer dad Martyn, opened their very own Junk Yard Skatepark in Saltash.
Then in 2021, the youngster watched Sky secure bronze in the early hours in the lobby of a Manchester hotel – and now gets her chance to be team-mates in Paris with the superstar teen as well as a legendary veteran of skateboarding.
Tambling, 16, told SunSport: “We were watching the girls’ finals rooting for Sky. She had that one run left and had to make it because she bailed the first two.
“We were on the edge of our seats and when she did it, we were all celebrating.
“I’m so stoked for both Sky and Andy, it’s so sick. I’m glad I get to go with them and skate with them as we represent Team GB.
“Andy’s a laugh, he’s crazy. I’m so happy for him. Sky’s a really nice person, really fun, kind polite girl.
“Sky definitely can win gold. But then there are also loads of other really good talented girls out there – Arisa Trew from Australia is absolutely killing it. She could win gold but I reckon Sky’s got it.”