Four years ago, at Tokyo 2020, Sky Brown made history by becoming Team GB’s youngest-ever Olympian at 13 years old. For an athlete who has achieved so much in so little time, it’s easy to say that moment set the tone for a stellar career; one that surely comes with a lot of pressure for thee now 16-year-old. What keeps her going? Her passion for the craft, a life-long relationship with skateboarding and surfing, and spending time with her loved ones. “I definitely feel like a normal teenager,” she says.

When Sky connects with Wonderland, she’s in the last leg of a turbulent build-up to the Paris Olympics, in the final qualifiers in Budapest. Just getting to the event is a massive accomplishment for the double-threat dynamo, who has overcome a series of serious knee injuries in the past years, followed by a shoulder dislocation last Tuesday during Paris’ preliminary rounds. But she’s proven once again that there are no limits for this Sky.

Today, we celebrate her even bigger steps as a two-time Olympic medallist, having won third place in yesterday evening’s thrilling women’s skateboarding park final. Here, we caught up with the star of the hour to discuss her expectations ahead of the big day, her excitement about how far skateboarding has come for women, joining Team Samsung Galaxy for Paris 2024 — and Los Angeles 2028, of course. Keep scrolling…

Sky, how did everything start for you? What are some of your first memories of skateboarding, and when did you realize that this passion could become a career?
I have loved skateboarding since I was one or two years old. I started playing with my dad’s board, just rolling around on it. I remember how fun and exciting it felt to push my limits and try new tricks. As soon as I knew what the Olympics were, I wanted to be there!

Who were some of your first influences in the sport?
There are so many people who have influenced me on my journey, I couldn’t name them all! I am inspired by Kisa Nakamura, she led the way for women’s skateboarding!

Tell me a bit about your experience in Tokyo. How does it feel to receive the news that you will be competing for an Olympic title, and now, looking back, to reflect on that time and see that you made history?
I can’t wait to be back at the Olympics! I am so excited to get out there and show the world how far Women’s Skateboarding has come. Tokyo was an amazing experience, I’m so glad I get to do it again and keep pushing for Gold. I know being so young at my first Olympics was really inspiring to other young girls and I’m really proud of that. I love sharing my passion with the world, and the Olympics is the perfect place to show what women’s skateboarding is all about.

Now, getting ready to potentially go to the Games again, what feels different? How do you reflect on your growth over the past four years, both in and out of the skate park?
I have been working hard and having a lot of fun over the last four years pushing myself and skating with friends all over the world. Since Tokyo, I have written two books and am helping build a skatepark in Siargo. I’m really excited to continue sharing my passion with the world and making positive change in the skateboarding community. This year, I am the first runner up in Surf too and training for both sports has made me feel extra disciplined and strong. I have grown so much by challenging myself, but every day I do it because I love it and that has lit a fire in me leading up to the Games.

What does it mean to you to be the youngest Olympic medalist in the history of Great Britain? And what do you wish more people knew about your journey there?
I love skateboarding and always dreamed of going to the Olympics and medaling, so it’s amazing to have already accomplished part of that dream. Now, I’m going for Gold and hope to inspire young girls in sport to keep pushing. I wish more people could see the amazing surf and skate communities like Siargo, where I train and spend time giving back to the community. The people there inspire me so much. I’m actually building a new skatepark there with Make Life Skate Life. We plan to host skate and surf contests there once the park is open. I am also so excited to celebrate what these communities mean to us with Samsung and the docu-series I participated in. They are about so much more than just sports, and I’m thrilled we get to share this with the world.

Now, just days ahead of the qualifiers in Budapest, how are you feeling? What motivates you today? Do you feel pressure, and if so, how do you deal with it?
I want to get out there and have fun, so I try to shut out the pressure and focus on doing what I love.

How do you balance all your obligations these days? Being an Olympic medalist and a skateboarding star while also being 16 years old and wanting to enjoy your teenage days? Do you feel like you miss out on anything? And do you still manage to find joy in your craft every day?
I love surfing and skating and I’m grateful I get to do it every day. I spend lots of time with friends and family, so I definitely feel like a normal teenager! Surfing and skating are my passion.

You also participated in one of the three-part docu-series recently by Samsung, Concrete Dreams. How was the experience? And how important is it for you to spread the word about the history of skateboarding and the richness of its community?
Concrete Dreams was a great experience, I loved getting to share how open the skateboarding community really is. I’m good friends with Rayssa so it was great to be able to film part of the project with her! I want girls all over the world to see that they can chase their dreams and have a place in sport. I am super passionate about inspiring young girls, so I really appreciate that Samsung helps shine a spotlight on sports like skateboarding and our stories through this docu-series. It is huge for me that we can now celebrate our sport with Samsung, who champions creativity and self-expression and isn’t afraid to push boundaries. I hope the documentary will inspire young girls to pick up a board and go for it.

Like many sports, skateboarding was a male-dominated environment for many years. How does it feel to be part of a generation that is very much changing this reality? And what advice do you wish to leave for the ones coming after you?
I am excited about how far skateboarding has come for women. I’ve been dedicated to changing what this sport looks like for girls since I started skating – everything from being able to skate in skirts and dresses, and dress girly, wear pink… things you never would’ve seen 10 years ago. I’m really proud of how I’ve made an impact here. The advice I would give to my younger self would be to always stay open to new experiences, and to the idea that you can win, no matter what.

You’re also part of the Team Samsung Galaxy for Paris 2024. How did that collaboration come about, and what do you love most about being part of this amazing roster of athletes dedicated to changing the game?
I couldn’t believe that Samsung wanted me on their team for the Tokyo Olympics. It was a total dream. So, to be a part of Team Samsung Galaxy once again for Paris 2024 is so special. The team is incredible and has always been so supportive of everything I want to do as a skater and surfer. I love being part of a team with athletes like Rayssa, Sunny and Johanne, as we keep inspiring each other. We all took a chance on ourselves, stayed open and it got us to where we are today, together with Samsung. We’ve had an incredible partnership and I can’t wait to see what we do together for LA28 as well, because, watch-out LA28…..