ANDY MACDONALD representing Team GB at the Olympics is the latest twist in one of the most surprising Games of the modern era.
But who is the 51-year-old British-American who will represent the UK in the skateboarding?
Andy was born in Massachusetts, USA where he developed a love of skating from a young age.
His father was from Luton and, despite not visiting his dad’s hometown, Andy has always felt a connection to the UK.
Before his new Olympic skating stardom, Andy was a global champion who held 8 world titles.
While he admits that skating isn’t as easy as it was when he was thirty, his love for the sport keeps him motivated.
His love of sport is something that his children share with him.
His eldest son is a long-distance runner, his 14-year-old is a gymnast and his eight-year-old rides horses.
Andy’s wife and children will be cheering him on at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Following the COVID Pandemic, Andy felt that sponsorship and competition opportunities began to dry up for him.
That led him to call up his Luton-born Dad to get a British passport, with the hope of joining Team GB.
Team GB themselves and the National Lottery supported Andy in his training and soon he was a British citizen.
In a whirlwind rise to the top of European skateboarding, Tony qualified for Team GB when he was competing in Bucharest.
Andy said even his good friend, and skateboarding legend, Tony Hawk called the idea “crazy”.
He said that he now can often be seen in a suit, instead of his skating kit.
Someone told him that was a good idea just “in case the King invites you to tea“.
He will be the oldest Olympic skateboarder in history, when he competes alongside his two 16-year-old teammates.
Beyond winning the World Cup Skateboarding title a whopping 8 times, Andy has had one of the most celebrated careers in skating.
He holds the record for the most X Games medals in vert (vertical) skateboarding.
This huge success has landed him roles in strange places, including in video games.
Andy even had a video game named after him in 1999, with MTV Sports: Skateboarding featuring Andy MacDonald.
