South Africa’s Boipelo Awuah Poised to Shine at Paris Olympics

South Africa’s Boipelo Awuah Poised to Shine at Paris Olympics

The Paris Olympics will offer South Africa’s skateboarders a chance to shine on the global stage, with 18-year-old Boipelo Awuah poised to make her debut after an injury kept her out of the Tokyo Games four years ago. Awuah, a street skateboarding prodigy from Kimberley in the Northern Cape, was present in Tokyo at age 15 but fractured her pelvic bone during practice.

South Africa’s Boipelo Awuah Poised to Shine at Paris Olympics: as per report, “I was thrilled to be in Tokyo, skating alongside my idols — the people I grew up watching. But on the second day of practice, I injured my pelvis while attempting a trick I had been practicing. My board flipped off during a 50-50 grind, causing me to hit my pelvis against the concrete. Although I’ve faced several injuries, this one was particularly daunting because I was so far from home.”

Awuah noted, “My family wasn’t with me, and with all my other injuries, I had someone there for support, so this one was definitely the most painful and frightening.”

Despite the potential for anxiety about returning to skateboarding, Awuah felt mostly the opposite. She explained, “After being away from my board for so long, I was actually excited. My progress once I got the green light to skate again was remarkable. During my time off, I had been imagining and dreaming about tricks every day.”

“When I finally got back on my skateboard, I had no fear except for that particular trick. I felt anxious about it, but for other tricks, I learned them faster and with more passion. It took me a while to get that one trick back to where it was.”

Awuah is motivated by a larger goal of improving opportunities for South African women in skateboarding. She reflected on the inequalities she has faced: “Yes, many times. Often, our competitions were disorganized. But now, we’re starting to gain more recognition. The level female skaters have reached is nearly on par with male skaters, so it’s hard to ignore us. We’re getting more platforms and events to showcase our skills.”

South Africa’s Boipelo Awuah Poised to Shine at Paris Olympics: When asked if her success could influence event organizers’ attitudes toward female skaters in South Africa, Awuah acknowledged the potential impact but felt she still had much work to do. “I’ve heard that my rise could help change perceptions, but I believe there’s still a lot more I can do to support the female skate scene in Africa. Hearing that I’m on the right path is encouraging.”

Jean-Marc Johannes, a prominent South African skater and scene pioneer, noted an increase in young girls at skateparks. “It’s fantastic to see this progression, and I’m excited about the future,” Johannes told ESPN.

Johannes holds world records for the most 360 frontside spins in 30 seconds (seven), most fakie heelflips in one minute (12), and most consecutive ollies (323, tied with David Tavernor from the UK).

Currently, only Dallas Oberholzer, a 49-year-old park skateboarder, will represent South Africa in Paris. Johannes, who is aiming for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, hopes to see improvements in the qualification process for South African skateboarders in the future.

South Africa’s Boipelo Awuah Poised to Shine at Paris Olympics: Reflecting on his journey, Johannes, who began skateboarding at age 10 despite asthma and finding other sports unsatisfactory, said: “Aside from the tricks that will take years to master, there are some dreams I aspire to. Competing in an X Games was a dream come true, especially when one of my tricks was reposted by them on social media.”

He added, “Keeping that vision alive and that fire burning is crucial. I’d also love to compete in a Street League. With the Olympics coming to Los Angeles in four years, I hope everything is set for us to be well-prepared.”

The recent revitalization in street skateboarding, with younger skaters earning Olympic spots, signals a promising future for the sport.

On the men’s side, Brandon Valjalo, a 25-year-old talent, is set for his second Olympics after finishing 18th in Tokyo and aims to improve his performance.

For Awuah, the immediate goal is to remain healthy throughout the Olympics: “My aim is to make it through the entire event — both practice and competition — and deliver my personal best performance.”

After that, she plans to focus on fostering change alongside her fellow skateboarders, with the hope that by 2028, skateboarding will be a sport in South Africa where everyone, regardless of background or gender, can aspire to excel.