Skateboarding sensation Arisa Trew becomes youngest Australian to win Olympic gold
Australia's youngest medallist, Arisa Trew, is an inspiration at her Gold Coast skate academy. (Ryan Sun, AP and X-Games)
They call her "The Robot" because she can do almost anything on a skateboard, but Australia's youngest Olympic gold medallist Arisa Trew only got into the sport because the water was too cold for a surf.
The 14-year-old is part of a growing number of talented Gold Coast skaters – some as young as three years old – training at a private academy in the hopes of making the big time.
Trew's coach Trevor Ward, a former pro skateboarder, started the Level Up Academy in 2022 as a pathway for young skaters.
He had a goal of getting the sport into the Olympics by 2028 and did not think it would be included sooner.
"I was part of a culture that no-one really wanted years ago and now it's like, you're sitting there, they built a brand new skate park and you're looking across onto the Eiffel Tower," he said from Paris.
Trevor Ward says "nothing really fazes" The Robot. (ABC Gold Coast: Jessica Lamb)
Mr Ward said Trew's journey to becoming Australian's youngest ever Olympic gold medallist, at age 14 and 86 days, was down to her determination and talent.
"She's pretty unshakable as a person," he said.
"We nicknamed her 'The Robot' … I tell her what to do and she goes and does it — she executes.
"She's a freakish talent, so it's pretty amazing."
Tasman Cahill says he doesn't know anyone as determined to win as Arisa. (ABC Gold Coast: Mackenzie Colahan)
Surf culture breeds skate talent
Another coach at the Currumbin training academy, Tasman Cahill, said Trew arrived about four years ago after she decided she could not get into the colder water for a surf on the Gold Coast's beaches.
It didn't take her long to feel at home on a different type of board.
"She's alright [as a surfer]," Mr Cahill said.
"She rips. Definitely better on a skateboard, but she can rip — just only in summer, not in winter."
Ado Cominsky says the Gold Coast's surfing culture has created a hotbed for skaters. (ABC Gold Coast: Mackenzie Colahan)
Ado Cominskey, who trains younger kids at the skate school, says a strong surfing culture has helped shape the city's skateboarding talent.
The Gold Coast's Keegan Palmer and Chloe Covell also competed in Paris.
"We are a surfing mecca and surfing is the forefather of skateboarding," Mr Cominskey said.
"It is in our veins, literally.
"The skate community on the Gold Coast, and especially on the southern end of the Gold Coast, is key to its strength, because it is just incredibly dedicated and passionate.
"I'm 50 and I just feel lucky to be a part of it and see what is going on."
Trew's '720' trick stardom
The Palm Beach teen was catapulted to super stardom last year when she landed a "720" – a trick involving two full mid-air rotations – and became the first woman to execute the manoeuvre in competition.
Skating legend Tony Hawk, who made the move famous when he first landed it 40 years earlier, was there to congratulate her then and was also in the crowd in Paris.
Mr Cahill said Trew was inspiring a new generation of skaters.
"She's such an amazing human being," he said.
"Her demeanour, the way she conducts herself and the way she's a role model and inspiration to all the young kids who come in here, because they see her as that global superstar.
"She's one of us and if she came in with any sense of ego she'd get cut right back down, and she would do the same for all of us."
Zen Dickson, Trew and other friends regularly skate together on the Gold Coast. (Supplied: Zen Dickson)
'Everyone went ballistic'
Classmate Zen Dickson and Trew's mates stayed the night at the Currumbin skate school to watch the win.
"She's been working towards this for so long," the 16-year-old said.
"As soon as she won everyone went ballistic, there were blow up mattresses up in the air and lollies scattered everywhere.
"We were so hyped, it was crazy — my voice still hurts from last night."
Zen said his training mate was known for her stamina.
"She's just a freak — she can skate for so long and her body won't hurt," he said.
"I can skate for about four or five hours a day and I'll be cooked, but she can go for like seven hours.
"It doesn't sound a lot, but that's big — that's a lot of skating."
Ella Ledingham and Zen Dickson watched on as their classmate Arisa Trew won gold in Paris. (ABC Gold Coast: Mackenzie Colahan)
'She's really inspired me'
Ella Ledingham said Trew was a hard worker that pushed others to try their best.
Trew on FaceTime showing her training mates her gold medal. (Supplied)
"She's really inspired me and I want to be going to the Olympics just like her," she said.
Mr Ward says because "nothing really fazes" Trew, the weight of the win is only just starting to sink in.
He said Trew almost missed out on the Olympic final, but her drive to win pushed her from fifth place in the qualifying round.
"I think that was actually a good thing because as we were walking off the skate park, she goes: 'I think I'm going to get kicked out,'" Mr Ward said.
"I said, 'Well, that's why I say, you got to make your first run' — you've got to do this.
"And I go, 'Do you want to win? Because if you get in, you got to go hard.' And she said, 'OK — let's do it.'"
Sandra Morgan-Beavis in 1956, when she won gold at the age of 14. (Supplied: Sandra Morgan-Beavis)
Youngest medallists connect
After holding the title of Australia's youngest-ever Olympic gold medal winner for 68 years, Sandra Morgan-Beavis said she was thrilled to pass on the baton.
Ms Morgan-Beavis was 14 years and six months old when she was part of Australia's 1956 Olympics 4x100-metre freestyle gold medal winning team.
She said she would meet Trew when she returned to Australia.
"Arisa portrayed a beautiful young Australian that really came from behind for the win, and that often happens in Olympics," Ms Morgan-Beavis said.
"She handled it so well and I'm so proud of her."