Top things to know about USA park skateboarder Tom Schaar
Find out more about the record-breaking, history-writing American skateboard star standing out as the road to Paris 2024 rumbles on.
Skateboarding
Tom Schaar is a skateboarder undeniably at the top of his game.
Currently competing in park at Paris 2024’s Olympic qualifying contests, Schaar’s repertoire goes beyond just the bowl thanks to his innate ability to tackle whatever is put before him. From vert ramps to mega bowls, the American relishes the challenge and he has the trophy cabinet to prove it.
It can be hard to believe that Schaar, born and raised in Malibu, is just 24 such has been the indelible impression he has already left on the skateboarding world.
At 12 years old, he was catapulted into stardom when he became the first-ever skater to ever pull a 1080 - a move that includes three complete mid-air rotations.
That slice of history set him on a trajectory of greatness and he has continued to keep pace as the years have gone by.
One of USA's star hopes for Paris 2024, here’s what else you need to know about him.
It all started with a ramp in the garden
Schaar’s start in skateboarding was something of a family affair.
Growing up in Malibu, California, he was just three years old when his older brother John put him on a skateboard.
Eager to keep up with his sibling, who was already showing natural talent in the sport as well as surfing, Schaar followed in his footsteps. And with the help of a small half-pipe vert ramp that their parents had built in their back garden, the young grom began to hone his own talent.
From there, Schaar's growth was exponential. Loving the feeling of flying on the ramp, he was identified early and under the wing of Bucky Lasek, a vert legend, the young American quickly developed into a skate prodigy.
Spinning into history
Back in 2006 at the Summer X Games, Shaun White, a man who would later become a three-time Olympic gold medallist in half-pipe snowboarding, tried to do what no human had ever done before: land a 1080 on a skateboard.
So eager was the superstar to nail the trick he tried 21 times to get it done, but to no avail.
Six years later, on March day in Tehachapi, California, 12-year-old Schaar did what many thought might not ever be possible. After a handful of attempts at the mega ramp, Schaar landed a 1080 on his fifth try.
Just 5 feet tall (1.5m) and around 80 pounds (36kg) at the time, Schaar instantly earned the praise of peers, some nearly three times his age. All were in awe at what the pre-teen had done and the barrier he had broken.
The next month, Schaar underlined his wunderkind credentials after deploying the trick to win gold at X Games which, incidentally, made him the youngest-ever win of an X Games gold at the time.
A competition pedigree to few others
Schaar’s history-making antics on his X Games debut became the foundation of what would develop to be a remarkable relationship with the competition.
Since his first appearance at the action sports event at 12, Schaar has gone on to make 30 appearances picking up 11 medals on the way.
Most recently, at X Games California, Schaar took two bronzes in park and MegaPark demonstrating his impressive ability to stay at the forefront of men’s skating even as he’s gotten older.
Schaar’s contest pedigree has also extended to other high-profile contests over the years. In addition to having X Games titles to his name, the American has also won at Dew Tour and Vert Attack among other international events.
Tom Schaar in action at X Games Minneapolis 2018
On the road to Paris 2024
With only the top three best-finishing US athletes able to qualify for Tokyo 2020 in men’s park, Schaar, who finished as the fourth-best American rider, ultimately missed out on the chance to be in Japan.
Undeterred by the experience, the Californian has bounced back and is now firmly in the driving seat for Paris 2024.
At the Sharjah Park World Championships in February, the first Olympic qualifier for the discipline, Schaar finished in fifth to set his campaign for France in a strong stead.
Then, in San Juan, Argentina, he unlocked another level, taking second place and with it rising up to third in the World Skate Olympic Rankings behind other US skater Jagger Eaton in first.
Now in Rome, at the World Championships once again, Schaar has his eyes on even more ranking points