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Tony Hawk Won’t Stop Working to Compete in the 2028 Olympics in LA

VaselineJuly 2, 2024

20 3 minutes read

Tony Hawk Won’t Stop Working to Compete in the 2028 Olympics in LA

Skateboarding legend Tony Hawk has shed light on speculation about a comeback for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles after retiring from professional skateboarding in 2003.

Hawk, also known as Birdman, told People magazine he had no plans to resume his retirement.

When the 56-year-old pioneer of modern vertical skateboarding was asked about his thoughts on dusting off his skateboard to compete in the 2028 Olympics in LA, hHe replied with a laugh:

“I don’t think you want to see me competing at 60.”

“That probably doesn’t bode well.”

He added:

“But I will definitely be there as a fan.”

Skateboarders will compete against each other this year after the International Olympic Committee gave preliminary approval for skateboarding to be included in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris

When the skateboarding competition first took place at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Hawk also indicated that he would not participate in the competition.

Hawk told the magazine that the sport’s inclusion is “great for the international growth and equality of skateboarding.”

He continued:

“People think that the Olympics are, I don’t know, somehow a cleansing game. But the games are being held exactly as they have been for the last 30, 40 years.”

He added:

“So it’s not like they’re reinventing the wheel or creating competition in our sport, it’s just that it’s more accessible now and has a wider audience.”

Hawk, who ran the first-ever documented 900 meters on his twelfth attempt at the X Games V in San Francisco, California, when he was 25, noted:

“I’m extremely proud. I’m proud that it’s there, and I think it’s great that a kid who chooses to skate now knows that there’s support for them.”

The skating community always feared his permanent retirement and in 2022 the fear was big when Hawk was spotted walking with crutches due to a thigh injury.

Hawk explained the following at the time on X (formerly Twitter):

“For those who see pictures of me with a cane and assume this is a permanent situation, I had surgery two weeks ago to realign my femur so I can get back to doing what I love at a high level.”

“And I’m taking it easy this time. See you on the other side.”

He later wrote on Instagram and shared an X-ray showing the severity of his injury:

“I have said many times that I will not stop skating until I am physically unable to do so anymore.”

“A broken leg – with a lot of hardware – will probably be the biggest test of that belief.”

“I’ll be back… maybe not at full strength, but I came to terms with that years ago when I approached midlife.”

Hawk remained enthusiastic about the speed skating competition at the Summer Olympics in Paris, which will be the first time that live spectators will be present after Tokyo banned the public from attending the 2020 Olympics in response to a state of emergency declared in the Greater Tokyo area due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s the first time skateboarding has had a live audience at the Olympics,” Hawk said of the Summer Olympics in Paris, noting:

“The talent has only increased, especially among women.”

During the 2020 Summer Olympics, the US team won two bronze medals for this sport.

Host nation Japan finished in first place with three gold, one silver and one bronze medal, while Australia won one gold medal, Brazil three silver medals and the United Kingdom one bronze medal.

Although we won’t see him competing in Paris, Hawk hasn’t stopped skateboarding for fun.

In fact, he still does this four times a week.

He told NBC Insider:

“I still love skating as much as I always did. And I mean, my motivations haven’t changed.”

“I just want to keep skating and trying out new techniques and stuff.”

Here’s a sample of his various skateboarding adventures that he’s posted on Instagram, starting with this fun video ad from his collaboration with Starbucks.

Despite his age, fans were still impressed with his agility.

@tonyhawk/Instagram

@tonyhawk/Instagram

@tonyhawk/Instagram

@tonyhawk/Instagram

@tonyhawk/Instagram

He beamed with pride as he reflected on the progress the sport has made.

“It’s just so much fun to see skateboarding mature; to see it grow; to see the inclusion factor; to see … parents encouraging their kids to skate now that (it’s) an Olympic sport. It’s such a perfect time for skateboarding,” he said.

He also encouraged young athletes to do their best, but also to “take a step back and enjoy the ride.”

Hawk said:

“I was so focused on my matches and my performances that, despite my age, I got a little lost in it and didn’t really embrace the friendships I’ve built over the years.”