Sky Brown will go down in the annals of Olympic history in 2020. She broke the record set by swimmer Margery Hinton (13 years and 43 days old) at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam by becoming the youngest athlete ever picked to compete for Team GB at the Olympics.
But the adolescent sensation’s journey to Tokyo has not been without its share of obstacles.
She was seriously hurt last year, and it almost ended her skateboarding career and possibly her life. Amazingly, Brown has recovered fully and will make her Olympic debut in her home nation.
Sky Brown Youngest Athletes in Tokyo 2020
Sky Brown, a skateboarding prodigy, turned 13 a few weeks before the Tokyo 2020 opening ceremony. She was one of the youngest athletes in Tokyo, and she set a record as the youngest British Olympian ever (beating Margery Hinton, who swam at the 1928 Games at the age of 13 years and 43 days).
She was the tournament’s shining star, not only because of her own abilities but also because of the camaraderie she helped foster among the very competitive athletes as they cheered, supported, and even hugged one another during the exciting Park competition.
Being that Brown’s mother Mieko is Japanese, she has deep ties to the city of Tokyo. This skateboarder, whose father is British but who currently splits her time between Japan and California, made the decision to participate for Team GB because she felt it would be less stressful than competing for her native country.
In the end, the two opposing skaters were able to relieve some of the stress from their respective shoulders. With two falls in the final, it appeared like Brown would finish much below runner-up Sakura Yosozumi. Although Kokona Hiraki, at just 12, had a better overall score, the 13-year-old won bronze thanks to her first perfect run of the competition.
Many believe Brown has the potential to become the next Chloe Kim or Shaun White, two superstar snowboarders who have helped legitimise their sports at the Winter Olympics as part of the International Olympic Committee’s desire to have more youth-oriented events at the Games.
Surviving a Wound that could have Killed You
Sky Brown was hospitalised after a harrowing fall in the summer of 2020. A video of Brown’s fall from an attempted ramp jump can be found on YouTube.
In the process of trying to close the gap, she lost control of her skateboard and fell from a height of about 15 meters. This video shows the seriousness of the situation by showing multiple emergency vehicles, including an ambulance, fire truck, and a helicopter.
Her father posted a photo of her injuries to Instagram, detailing multiple fractures to her skull, a broken left arm (which she had used to break her fall), broken fingers on her right hand, and puncture wounds to her heart and lungs.
Final Words
The fact that she was able to get back on her feet and win a medal despite almost insurmountable odds bodes well for her chances of success in Paris in 2024.
