14-Year-Old Australian Skateboarder Arisa Trew Wins Laureus Action Sportsperson of the Year

Arisa Trew, a 14-year-old Australian skateboarder, has been named the action sportsperson of the year at the 2024 Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid.

Trew was honored for her pioneering feat of becoming the first female skater to land a 720 - two full rotations in midair - in competition at the age of 13 last year. "I didn't expect to be here," Trew said upon receiving the award. "My idol Tony Hawk is in the audience. He gave me tips on landing the 720."

Trew also became the first female in X Games history to win both the park and vert competitions, known as the "double". She pulled off the iconic 720 maneuver at the event of skating great Tony Hawk, who was there to applaud her historic achievement. Trew beat out other nominees including fellow skater Rayssa Leal and surfers Caroline Marks and Filipe Toledo for the Laureus honor.

The young skateboarder from Palm Beach started skating at a young age as a way to escape the cold winters when she didn't want to surf. Over the years, it evolved from a hobby to a passion. "I've made so many friends through skating and I love learning new tricks," Trew said. Her coach Trevor Ward praised her exceptional talent and drive, noting that she has learned tricks in just two days that took him six months to master.

Why this matters: Trew's achievement and recognition at the Laureus World Sports Awards showcase the remarkable talent of young athletes and the growing prominence of women in the sport of skateboarding. As skateboarding continues to gain popularity and inclusion in major events like the Olympics, Trew's success serves as an inspiration for aspiring skateboarders around the world.

Trew is now firmly on course to represent Australia at the Olympics in Paris later this year. She is currently ranked 14th in the world and is expected to qualify for the park competition through upcoming qualifying events in Shanghai and Budapest.

Trew hopes to emulate fellow Australian Keegan Palmer, who won the skateboarding gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics. The Laureus World Sports Awards, which have been presented since 2000, recognize the world's top sports achievements as determined by the 69 members of the Laureus World Sports Academy.

Key Takeaways

• Arisa Trew, 14, named action sportsperson of the year at 2024 Laureus Awards
• First female skater to land a 720 in competition at age 13
• First female to win both park and vert competitions at X Games
• Ranked 14th in the world, expected to qualify for Paris Olympics
• Laureus Awards recognize top global sports achievements since 2000