Chloe Covell, the skateboarding prodigy who was poised to become Australia's youngest-ever Olympic medalist, narrowly missed out on a medal in the women's street final at the Paris 2024 Games.
The 14-year-old, who was just 170 days old when she competed, was aiming to break the record set by swimmer Sandra Morgan at the 1956 Melbourne Games. Despite her valiant efforts, a few stumbles in the final unfortunately prevented her from achieving this historic feat.
Following the competition, Covell was comforted by her father, former NRL star Luke Covell, as she fought back tears. Though disappointed with the outcome, Covell remained proud of her performance at her first Olympic Games. "I'm proud that I made it into the final," she told Nine after the competition. "I tried my best, and that's all I could do."
Covell, who had qualified fourth for the final with a score of 246.73, struggled to replicate her earlier form in the heats. Several falls throughout the competition left her out of medal contention.
Despite a shaky start in her first run, Covell recovered to deliver a strong performance, earning a score of 70.33. However, another fall in her second run proved costly.
"She didn't play it safe, and that's why we love Chloe," commentator Mitch Tomlinson remarked on Nine.
In the trick section, Covell was unable to stick her first two attempts. She finished eighth overall, with Japan's Coco Yoshizawa taking gold, Liz Akama claiming silver, and Brazil's Rayssa Leal securing bronze.
"Chloe Covell, we and the whole nation are so proud of you," Tomlinson said. "Getting here, doing what you do and giving it your best shot."
Covell impressed in the preliminary round, overcoming an error in her first run to finish second behind China's Cui Chenxi. However, her second run was marred by a stumble on a ledge, which prevented her from completing her routine. Despite this setback, she recovered strongly in her next attempt, securing a top score of 85.58.
Fellow Australian skateboarders Liv Lovelace and Haylie Powell competed in the preliminary round, finishing 20th and 21st respectively.
While Covell's Olympic dream of a medal may not have come true in Paris, her talent and dedication are undeniable. At just 14 years old, she has already achieved so much and has a bright future ahead of her in the world of skateboarding.
