What would the Olympic Games be without Tony Hawk in attendance? Well, I will say this—a decade ago, the answer would have been quite different. Probably something along the lines of, "Hmmm...they'd be pretty much the same."
But now, with some of the best skateboarders from around the world competing for gold in both Park and Street skateboarding, the answer is pretty clear—his absence would be super weird. In fact, in a space like this, The Birdman's presence isn't just expected...I'd say it's borderline essential!
Although Tony isn't an official Olympic athlete, his legendary status and heavy list of accomplishments speak for themselves. I mean, he's Tony Hawk. It's one of the rare times you can say, "Enough said," and sincerely mean it.
At the same time, Tony has been making his own mark at the Games with some unforgettable moments on and off the course. From cruising the streets of Paris like the true skate rat he is (his Instagram stories have been going off), to Tate Carew's pro surprise, and even skating the Park course with Mark Gonzales, Tony has been staying busy and keeping us all on our toes.
Simply put—the 2024 Paris Olympics wouldn't be the same without Tony Hawk's presence.
Maybe you saw the post, maybe you didn't, but this surprise was truly epic. Tony surprised Tate Carew with his pro model Birdhouse board just a few days before Park practice began, with an assist from the one and only Mark Gonzales nonetheless! How legendary was that!? If you haven't seen the clip, check it below.
Seeing Tony and Gonz hanging with each other out in Paris (just in general) was a nostalgic sight for sore eyes—the two have such a rad history—but the fact that they took center stage and sessioned the Park course together was truly all time.
"There is a lot of focus on the age of skaters in the Olympics. And it is true, some of the top competitors are very young," he mentioned in the caption. "But that is nothing new to our sport. What’s missing from the conversation is the fact that we can now continue to skate into our adult lives and still be considered relevant and/or innovative." If I were you, I'd swipe through the gallery below and read the rest of the caption. Just another reason he's the best.
There have obviously been plenty of other moments as well—and there will certainly be more—but so far, these have all really stuck out to me. The FOMO is real. But at the same time (and well, in this modern world of ours) being able to catch all the behind-the-scenes action from our little glowing screens has been a real treat.
So, to answer the question—yes, of course he's there. And he's been absolutely killing it. Tony, keep the content flowing! Consider me engaged.
Thumbnail Photo / Bryce Kanights
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