Skaters Face Final Olympic Qualification

The final qualification hurdle for NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS) Skateboarding Olympic hopefuls begins in Budapest Hungary today.

NSWIS athletes Ruby Trew, Poppy Starr Olsen, Olivia Lovelace and Felicity Turner are at the Budapest Olympic Qualifier Series event, which will close out Phase 2 of the Paris 2024 qualification process. 

The skaters will compete amongst 44 other athletes per gender per discipline with the goal to improve their World Skate Rankings and secure contention for a Paris 2024 qualification ranking. 

Both the Street and Park line-up remains unchanged from last month’s Olympic Qualifier Series #1 Shanghai with the Aussie Skateboarders making the last push for Australian Olympic Team selection. 

Gold Coast teen, Arisa Trew led the way for the Aussie contingent in Shanghai with an outstanding gold medal performance in the Women’s Park Final.

Tokyo gold medalist Keegan Palmer took out silver with Kieran Woolley, Chloe Covell and NSWIS athlete Ruby Trew also achieving top eight placings to help their World Rankings.

Fifteen-year-old Trew is currently ranked sixth in the world and second in Australia. Fellow NSWIS athlete Poppy Starr Olsen is ranked third in Australia and both athletes should qualify for the Paris Games in Women’s Park.

Street athlete Haylie Powell, who currently sits in 23rd place said she is hopeful of producing a similar performance to OQS Shanghai. 

“Shanghai was a different vibe with a lot less people once we went to the remaining 44 athletes, not many people in heats so that was something to get used to as normally it’s really chaotic” said Powell.

“The Eupope vibes are something else, I’ve loved every comp I’ve skated there. I’ll be skating with my best friends, it’ll be a good time and fun trip. 

“It has been a little nerve wracking, sitting on the edge of qualification. This will be a big competition for me. Hopefully I can repeat what I did in Shanghai.”

Twenty-year-old Street athlete Olivia Lovelace is positioned well to qualify for the Paris Games, currently ranked 19th in the world and second in Australia.

Following the completion of the Olympic Qualifier Series in Budapest, the top 20 athletes per discipline and per gender, with a maximum of three athletes per country, will be eligible for selection for Paris 2024. 

Olympic Qualifier Series will be available for viewing on 9Now. 

Article courtesy of Skate Australia