This evolution, from its humble origins to its emergence as a competitive sport, laid the foundation for skateboarding’s Olympic debut. Yet, even as it ascended to the world stage, skateboarding never lost its spirit of freedom and defiance, which remains central to its identity. It was a defining chapter for a subculture that has long celebrated individuality, freedom, and resistance to convention. Skateboarding’s Olympic inclusion marked a shift in its identity, straddling the line between grassroots authenticity and global recognition. The skateboarding company Powell-Peralta produced the Bones Brigade Video Show in 1983.

• While many celebrated the chance to showcase skateboarding to a global audience, others feared that the sport would lose its authenticity and become too commercialized.
• Barros has won multiple X Games gold medals and is a favorite in international park skateboarding events.
• Judges evaluate the quality of the skater’s execution in each trick, looking for proper technique, control, and smoothness in their movements.
• In a different realm, LA movers contribute to successful transitions and relocations, reflecting the precision and dedication needed to achieve excellence in any field.
• The lifestyle of a professional skater largely remained a struggle to make ends meet.

Is Skateboarding a Sport in the Olympics? Let’s Explain Everything!

In 2015, the IOC announced that Skateboarding would be included as a demonstration sport in the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, and the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru. This was a significant step forward for Skateboarding and helped to raise the profile of the sport. Trew, the youngest on Australia’s team in Paris and the nation’s seventh-youngest Olympian ever, was stunned by her success. The Cairns-born skater scored 93.18 to pip Japan’s Cocona Kiraki (92.63) and Great Britain’s Sky Brown (92.31). Judges evaluate the quality of the skater’s execution in each trick, looking for proper technique, control, and smoothness in their movements.

Structure vs. Creativity

The advent of urethane wheels, which offered better grip and smoother rides, sparked a revolution in skate design and performance. This was the golden age of skateparks, and names like Tony Alva, Stacy Peralta, and the Z-Boys became synonymous with a new, fearless style of skating that thrived on rebellion and creativity. In skateparks, skaters could practice both the street and park style skating seen in the Olympics today. The Zephyr Competition Team started out as surfers who rode in Dogtown, the Santa Monica and Venice Beach area in California. He retired from competitions in 2003, long before skateboarding became an Olympic sport.

The establishment of organizations like the National Skateboard Association (NSA) and the World Cup Skateboarding (WCS) further formalized the competitive landscape, setting standards and organizing events worldwide. Competitions in the watch this video sport of skateboarding, governed by World Skate, have been held at two editions of the Summer Olympic Games. First selected as one of the discretionary sports at the 2020 and 2024 games, skateboarding will be inducted as one of the mandatory sports at the 2028 games. Athletes compete in the disciplines of park and street skateboarding – each their own events.

Skateboarding was added as an Olympic sport for the first time in the 2020 Summer Olympics, scheduled in Tokyo, Japan.

Rival FIS events were staged, forcing snowboarders to choose sides, resulting in the collapse of the IFS in 2002. This increased exposure will give more opportunities to skaters and gives them more support for this sport. The judging criteria may vary depending on the specific event and discipline. Judges mainly seek skaters who can perform difficult tricks with creativity and originality.

By the mid-1960s, skateboarding had forged a unique identity apart from surfing with attention in the press and popular culture. 2017 Vans Park Series World Champion Nora Vasconcellos has spent her young career balancing competition with the more traditional “part” videos that made Cardiel an icon of the sport. Although women skated from the beginning, opportunities have lagged behind the men. Vasconcellos hopes that the Olympics can help improve the lot of female skaters. Skaters first really took notice of the IOC when it staged a hostile takeover of snowboarding for the 1998 Nagano Olympics.

This widespread media exposure helped to build a global community of skateboarders, united by a shared passion for the sport. The decision wasn’t just about showcasing tricks and flips; it was about bringing skateboarding’s raw energy, creativity, and community-driven ethos to the global stage. While the journey to the Olympics was met with challenges and debate, it marked a significant moment in skateboarding history, bridging the gap between its grassroots origins and its future as a mainstream sport. The inclusion of skateboarding in the Olympics has had a profound impact on the sport.

The Skateboard Gets a Kicktail—And New Wheels

The continued presence of skateboarding in the Olympics will provide ongoing opportunities for the sport to grow and evolve. Future competitions are likely to feature even higher levels of skill and innovation, as skateboarders continue to push the boundaries of what is possible. The Olympic platform will also continue to inspire and unite skateboarders from around the world, fostering a sense of global community and shared passion. The inclusion of skateboarding in the Olympics was met with widespread excitement and anticipation.