Celebrities crushing over other celebrities is not something new in the entertainment industry. Stars even sometimes come forth to express their heartfelt admiration for a fellow celeb. And today’s case is similar to that. It speaks of a time in the early 2010s when Olympian Tony Hawk was upheld as an inspiration by a famous teen star.

The teen star in question is none other than Zac Efron. The Hollywood star once admitted to having the Olympian Hawk as an inspiration. This was back when he was around 13.

The “Birdman” Hawk is surely one of the most splendid athletes the modern age has seen. He first leaned towards skateboarding when he was a teen, quickly rising ranks and getting a pro card. He has also been credited with inventing and popularizing multiple skating moves. Hence, no doubt, his inventive attitude did it for Efron.

Tony Hawk was a great inspiration to a 13-year-old Zac Efron

In a 2013 interview with RTE, Zac Efron gave a short byte regarding his movie ”Townies”. But, while speaking on it, he also went more personal, speaking about what his room looked like when he was all but a teenager. He said that when he was 13, his room used to be decked up with posters, including those of his childhood crush, supermodel Tyra Banks. Apart from her posters, his room also had Tony’s posters in abundance.

Elucidating his words further, he said, “Other than her, the rest of my posters were skateboards, BMX bikes, and Tony Hawk.” But, while he expressed his desire to meet Tyra, he did not follow suit with Tony with the same. Efron has met and collaborated with other Olympians in the past. So, maybe his chances of doing the same with Hawk are not zero.

ALSO, READ THIS: “Did Get Kicked Off…”: Skateboarding Legend Tony Hawk Recalled the Shocking Event at Tokyo Olympics 2020

Diving more into athlete archives: Who is Hawk?

Tony Hawk was the person whose skateboarding skills drew in an entire generation. Born in 1968 and currently aged 54, he first started skateboarding as a simple activity. But he had talent and actually managed to earn his “pro” title around age 14. He is regarded as a master at vert skating. And, he is the first person to actually do a documented “900” trick.

Tony even has several accolades and awards under his belt. He won multiple competitions in the 80s and the 90s. He was also cheered after being elected as the “best vert skater” from 1984 to 1996. When Tony retired in 2003, he was considered a daredevil, an icon for his bravery to scale any ramp.

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