Andy MacDonald has skateboarding in his veins.
For the 50-year-old, having a board to hand at all times has been like another sibling. It follows him everywhere and has seen him through many of life’s most precious moments - marriage, the birth of his three children and his record nine World Cup victories.
Now MacDonald and his board are set to embark on a new journey as the British-American heads to his first Olympic Games – an incredible achievement in a sport where athletes half his age are considered veterans.
“I always knew it was going to be a long shot," he said. "I’m 50 years old skating against 14 year olds, so I knew it was going to be hard.
“When I started out, going to the Olympics wasn't even a thought. But here I am, qualifying at the age of 50, and it feels pretty surreal. Age really is just a number.”
MacDonald defied the odds at the qualifying event in Budapest, despite a fall during his first two runs.
“Everyone kept asking me if I would qualify for the Olympics and I said no, there’s no way,” he added.
“Usually I’m quite conservative in the opening rounds - I like to get points on the board and then build on that - but in Budapest that went out of the window. It really all went down to the last try. All the power in the final hour, as they say.”
While competing at the Olympics will be a career first for MacDonald, he also has the chance to do something equally as important: keep a promise to his wife.
“When I married my wife 23 years ago I told her I would take her to Paris as often as I could,” he said. “She speaks French and spent some time studying in Paris. We haven’t been for 15 years.
“When I FaceTimed her I said: remember how I promised I would take you to Paris all the time and I didn’t really follow through with that? What do you say I take you to Paris this summer?”
MacDonald will become skateboarding’s oldest Olympian in Paris, another shot in the arm for a sport that is becoming a fan-favourite. He will be joined by Team GB teammates Sky Brown, who will be 16 by the time the Games start, and Lola Tambling, also 16.
“I went to the World Championships in Dubai last year and there were skaters from 60 different nations. I remember being at the World Championship in 1995 and it was the same two dozen dudes I always skated against. It’s totally different now,” he said.
“I think the Olympics definitely changed people’s perspective of skateboarding. It’s not skaters going out and damaging public property - we have a GB team. We’re at the Olympics. For the first time skateboarding has become a global phenomenon.”
The native American qualifies for the Olympics through his British father, but has spent a lifetime making a career out of the sport he first started aged 12.
“The Olympics has opened up more opportunities for skaters than ever. There are more public skateboard facilities, parks are more accessible and skateboarding is more accepted than it ever has been,” he said.
History-maker aside, for now MacDonald is happy to bask in the knowledge that he can continue doing what he loves by competing in Paris.
“If everybody loved their job as much as I do, the world would be a much better place.
“I’ve had a lot of messages saying I’m representing the old guys - “go get em til the wheels fall off” kind of thing. But if I can motivate people to stay out there and love what they do then that’s amazing. There are no rules in skateboarding, it’s all about enjoying the ride.”
Sportsbeat 2024