13-year-old Fay Ebert takes skateboarding gold at 2023 Pan American Games
Santiago 2023 is hosting skateboarding's debut into the continental championships, and Canadian teen just made history in the women's park finals
The 13-year-old Canadian Fay Ebert took control of the women’s skateboard park finals at the 2023 Pan American Games to take the continental title ahead of Brazil’s Raicca Ventura and Team USA Olympian Bryce Wettstein.
Eight athletes from eight different nations faced off at skateboarding’s first ever PanAms women's competition, but the camaraderie between the young stars made the group seem more like teammates and long-time friends than competitors.
The park finals are set up so each athlete gets three 45 second runs through the bowl, where they string together tricks and combinations for the judges to return a score out of 100.
Only the highest scored run counts, and the five judges are looking at execution, degree of difficulty, variety, originality and style.
Ebert took the gold with her second run score of 84.66, knocking off the 82.71 she received after her first run, which still would have secured her the win.
Ventura took the silver with a decorated Brazilian crowd behind her and a final score of 82.54, followed by Wettstein with a 79.95.
Raicca Oliveira of Team Brazil Fay Ebert and Bryce Wettstein of stand on the podium after the Women's Park Skateboarding Final at Pan Am Games 2023 in Santiago, Chile.
The athletes, ranging from age 12 through 21, shared hugs, fist bumps and even danced together throughout the competition to the mix of 90’s hip-hop, 2000’s grunge and a little bit of rock n’ roll blaring through the speakers that lined the judges tower.
“I just wanted to smile and feel good about myself,” said Ebert as she spoke to Olympics.com after standing on top of the podium.
“I just wanted to land my full run and have fun.”
Freshly in the spotlight, the Canadian teen seemed excited and overwhelmed the media attention following her gold.
Long-time friend, competitor and Ukulele duet partner Wettstein said that Fay’s win was ‘well deserved.’
“She skateboards with so much passion and conviction and has a beautiful way of life,” the American told Olympics.com.
Fay Ebert holds the Canadian flag after winning the gold medal in the Women's Park Skateboarding Final at the Santiago Pan Am Games 2023 in Santiago, Chile.
History of Skateboarding at the Pan American Games
Skateboarding is making its Pan American Games debut in Santiago this week. After the sport’s inaugural Olympic Games in Tokyo, it has been appearing in multi-sport games across the world and will return to the big stage at Paris 2024.
The men’s and women’s street final took place on 21 October where Brazilian athletes took the gold in both the men’s and women’s disciplines.