We’ve heard stories of the Olympics being someone’s childhood dream. However, what if someone realizes that dream even before entering their teenage? That’s what Zheng Haohao has done. The Chinese park skateboarder is writing history in Paris by becoming the youngest athlete in China’s Olympic history. So how did she start this journey and just how old is Haohao?

Paris Olympics are on course to being one for the ages. Like always, this time too there is a wide range of athletes taking part. From the ones in their 30s to someone as young as Haohao, the list of people competing for greatness is long. But even among those stars, Haohao has found a place of her own. Instead of wanting to win, she wants to have fun. So what makes this young 11-year-old so special?

How skateboarder Zheng Haohao qualified for the Paris Olympics?

At 11 years and 11 months, Haohao is the youngest Olympian in Paris right now. The fact that she made it into the Olympics just 4 years after taking up the sport shows the great talent that Haohao possesses. However, this talent didn’t come without hard work. Haohao’s journey is just as interesting as her achievement. However, first, let’s understand what the Olympics say about under-18 athletes.

Though officially there is no age limit in the Olympics, some sports have maintained it nonetheless. But skateboarding isn’t one of those events. However, there have been steps taken to safeguard the security of underaged players. As a result, the players are permitted to stay in Olympic Village but whether they do so or not is left to individual countries.

So returning to Haohao – her Olympic qualification wasn’t something that anyone expected. In fact, she almost missed it during the 2023 World Skateboarding Tour. After an impressive 63.49 points first round, Haohao’s mistake dropped her to just 43.84 in round two. That increased the risk of her elimination. As a result, she took a massive gamble and incorporated two highly risky tricks (including a 540 flip) into her routine. The tricks worked and she received 72.6 points in the third round. Suddenly, Haohao was China’s youngest Olympian. 

The Chinese skateboarding prodigy’s past results and achievements 

Zheng Haohao experienced love at first sight with skateboarding. Her story started when she was 7. Living in Huizhou City in Southern China’s Guangdong Province, she was gifted a skateboard when she turned seven. That immediately increased her interest in the sport. Later Haohao trained with an Asian Games champion in her local club. At just 9, the Guangdong provincial team recruited her. That began Haohao’s competitive journey.

Haohao first competed in China’s National Games in 2021 where she came 14th. Afterward, she qualified for the Olympics in 2023. Though as of now she’s still trying to gain momentum in sport, Haohao’s attitude is already making her a popular figure in the sport. “I feel I’m really kicking ass when I skateboard. I feel a bit narcissistic,” Haohao said in an interview. So as it stands, Haohao is on her way to becoming an iconic skateboarder.  Perhaps it’s time to mark the calendars for August 6 – the date the park will see Zheng Haohao and other skateboarders in action.