SALTASH teenager Lola Tambling has been confirmed in the Team GB squad for this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris.
The 16-year-old will join fellow teenager Sky Brown in representing her country in the women’s skateboarding event in France.
Tambling was always expected to make the squad after finishing sixth at last year’s World Championships and having secured an Olympic qualifying spot at a recent competition in Budapest.
However, Team GB officially had to accept her nomination, which they have now done.
Joining 16-year-old Tambling and 15-year-old Brown in the team will be 50-year-old Andy Macdonald, who will compete in the men’s event.
Brown will be going to her second Olympics. She won a bronze in Tokyo at the age of just 13.
Tambling started skateboarding aged seven after attending a skate jam at her local park set up by her parents, before eventually competing in international tournaments from 11 years-old.
She won the UK National Skateboarding Championship in 2022 and competed in her first World Championship in February last year.
The teenager, who was chosen as a model for the Team GB Ben Sherman kit, admits going to the Olympic Games is a ‘dream’.
Meanwhile, Team GB Chef de Mission Mark England OBE said: “It was fantastic to witness skateboarding make its debut in Tokyo, and we were thrilled to see Sky make history as the youngest person ever to win a medal for Team GB at the summer Games.
“I am delighted to welcome Sky back to the team, and we are equally pleased to have Lola and Andy as part of Team GB for their debut Games. It will be thrilling to watch these three in action in Paris and I cannot wait to see them showcase their repertoire of skills this summer.”
Darren Pearcy, Skateboard GB performance manager, added: “We are thrilled to announce that Sky Brown, Lola Tambling, and Andy Macdonald have been selected for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
“Their exceptional skills and unwavering dedication have led them to this extraordinary achievement. As they take the Olympic stage with the world watching, they not only showcase their talents and personalities but also bring the values, culture, and community of skateboarding to a global audience. Our pride in them knows no bounds, and we are excited to see them inspire a new generation of skateboarders.”
The skateboarding events will take place on four separate days from July 27 to August 7 at the Place de la Concorde in Paris.