Andy Macdonald defies odds and age to secure skateboarding quota for Paris 2024: “It’s pretty surreal”
Vert legend Macdonald, 50, is set to become the oldest-ever Olympic skateboarder after securing an NOC quota spot for Paris 2024 at the Olympic Qualifier Series Budapest.
Skateboarding
A bit of luck and a “good kick in the butt”.
It might not sound like much, but for Great Britain’s Andy Macdonald, it was the unique combination that successfully saw him secure an NOC quota* spot for the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
Heading into the Olympic Qualifier Series (OQS) Budapest, the 50-year-old skateboarder had a mountain to climb.
Sitting 38th in the Olympic World Skateboarding Rankings ahead of the second leg of the OQS, Macdonald was some way off the bubble that rewards those with a Paris berth.
It meant the final trip to Hungary was, in effect, a last chance saloon for the vert world-record holder; one last chance to make his “Hail Mary long shot” Olympic tilt.
“When I got here, I was like, I have to just come up with a line that is the most jammed-packed with the most difficult tricks that I’ve ever done - all together,” Macdonald told Olympics.com in an exclusive interview, opening up on the reality of his strategy.
It was risky. And when Macdonald fell on his first two runs his coach stepped in to suggest he alter his course.
“I’m like ‘No, this is it. It’s every point that I can get. I need to get it. I have to do it all,’” the Briton continued.
Macdonald’s ‘all-in’ approach ultimately paid off. To the raucous applause of the packed-out stands watching the legendary skater at play in heat one of the prelims he delivered in style. And, somewhat remarkably, as the four heats unfolded, Macdonald’s score saw him make the semi-finals.
In the next day of action, the Macdonald's luck came through again.
Though he was unable to put down a clean run, neither did Jagger Eaton and Macdonald’s superior run score meant he finished 15th accessing a host of valuable ranking points that propelled him inside the cut.
*As National Olympic Committees have the exclusive authority for the representation of their respective countries at the Olympic Games, athletes' participation at the Paris Games depends on their NOC selecting them to represent their delegation at Paris 2024.
Click here to see the official qualification system for each sport.
Andrew Macdonald GBR reacts during the Men's Skateboarding Park Prelims. Photo: OIS/Jon Buckle. Handout image supplied by OIS/IOC
"We had a little cry about it"
While Macdonald's questing for the Olympics had always appeared like a remote possibility, not least given his years under the sun, it was still something the skater took seriously.
The travel his ambition entailed - including stops in Argentina, Dubai and Italy - meant spending time away from his wife and three children.
It was only right, therefore, that the first person Macdonlad told about his obtaining a quota spot was his partner.
“I FaceTimed my wife and I said, ‘Hey, remember when we got married? I told you I would take you to Paris as often as I could? Sorry that I haven’t; it’s been 15 years since we’ve gone. But what do you think about going this summer?’ And she just looked at me blankly, like wasn’t really sure.
"And we’re FaceTiming and then my eight-year-old daughter sticks her head into the camera and she’s like, “Are we going to the Olympics?” And I was like, ‘Yes’ and my eight-year-old is like “Oh!” And my wife’s face just went, and her jaw hit the ground,” Macdonald recounted with a smile.
“It was good. We had a little cry about it.”
As for how Macdonald plans to celebrate, the itinerary so far includes a big ice cream sundae.
From there, it will then be a matter of counting down the days until the park contest begins in Paris on Wednesday 7 August, where Macdonald is set to become the oldest-ever Olympic skateboarder.