Skateboarding star Chloe Covell on her Olympic dreams
In 2023, Chloe Covell became the youngest street skateboarding gold medallist in X Games history and has been celebrating podium finishes in international competitions ever since.
The determined 13-year-old, who hails from Tweed Heads in northern NSW, has attracted the likes of Nike SB and Oakley as sponsors.
She is now training hard - and on track - to be selected for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics.
What does a typical school day look like when you're not competing?
I wake up, get ready, and go to school. Dad picks me up after school and takes me to my gym and physio session. I have a skate sesh after that.
Do you train every day?
I train every day for about two hours. I also have a gym and physio session on Mondays and Thursdays, and on Wednesdays
I have a core/mobility session. On Fridays, I have a day off to rest and chill.
With your busy schedule, do you still have time to do any jobs around the house to earn pocket money?
I get $25 a week pocket money for emptying and packing the dishwasher, setting the table, putting my clothes away and keeping my room tidy.
How did it feel to become the youngest athlete in history to win two X Games medals before the age of 13?
When I first found out, I was super shocked but also excited because it was just really crazy to think that I had done that.
What inspired you to want to skateboard professionally?
After competing in a few local comps, I started to progress, made it to my first open women's national comp and placed first.
That's when I thought to myself that I could go somewhere with my skating and started to skate even more.
How excited are you about the possibility of going to the Paris Summer Olympics?
It's super exciting because going to the Olympics has been one of my biggest skating goals.
It's cool to think that if I was to win a medal, I could be the youngest Olympic gold medallist.
Who are your sponsors and how does sponsorship work for an athlete your age?
My sponsors are Nike, Red Bull, Oakley, Independent, Bones, Mob Grip.
My parents use my sponsorship money to help pay for my travel, accommodation and expenses. They put the rest away for when I am older.
Do you see yourself as a professional skateboarder in the future or do you have another career in mind?
I would definitely love to have a career as a professional skateboarder and hopefully earn enough money from sponsorships to support that as my career.
What do you love/not love about travelling overseas to compete?
I love that I can travel the world doing my sport, going to the comps and seeing my friends.
I don't like the jet lag and sometimes the long flights, because I get pretty bored.
Do you feel like your Instagram followers are cheering you on when it comes to your skateboarding?
I feel a lot of support from everyone because after a comp people are congratulating me and they're really happy for me, which is really nice, and the support is cool.
What's your favourite thing to spend money on?
I love spending money, but I try not to spend it that much because I also like to save for the future.
If you won the lottery, what would you do with your millions?
I would buy a really nice house along the beach and a cool boat that I can use for fishing, tubing, wakeboarding and kneeboarding.
Which skateboard do you like best for training and competition?
Most of my skateboards are the same, but when I go to a comp I take two spare boards because I love the feeling of skating a new board.
How would you spend your last $50?
I would spend it on skateboarding equipment and food that would hopefully give me lots of energy.
Finish this sentence: Money is good for...
... spending on stuff you feel you deserve and it's also good for saving.
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