Tony Hawk has mesmerized skateboarding fans for years with his gravity-defying tricks. Even after retirement, he has continued nurturing young talents by supporting them through his skateboard company, Birdhouse. At the 2023 X Games, all eyes were on one talented youngster. Someone who is backed by the legendary Tony Hawk himself.
When she was presented with the opportunity, the 10-year-old rose to the occasion. The skateboarding prodigy from Canada not just serenaded the crowd with her performance, but also ended up setting a benchmark for the X Games.
Reese Nelson creates X Games skateboarding history
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Reese Nelson wowed the crowds at the X Games in California, leaving them spellbound as she claimed the silver medal in the fiercely competitive Pacifico Women’s Skateboard Vert event. Nelson’s extraordinary performance on the vert ramp showcased her fearlessness and remarkable ability to execute intricate maneuvers with finesse. Her incredible display put her in contention for the top spot, but she was narrowly edged out by another rising star. 13-year-old Australian phenom Arisa Trew clinched the gold with a dazzling final run.
The Canadian prodigy achieved a score of 88.00 as compared to Trew’s winning score of 90.33. It wasn’t enough for a pole finish, but it was enough to get her into history books. Courtesy of her silver medal, Nelson is now the youngest medalist at the X Games. To top it all off, Reese Nelson enjoys the invaluable support of skateboarding legend Tony Hawk, who recognizes her immense talent and potential. According to a Metro report, earlier this year in an interview, Hawk proudly spoke about their sponsorship of the young prodigy, saying, “She’s nine years old and doing tricks on a vert ramp that are extremely difficult and dangerous. She really is a prodigy.” However, Nelson wasn’t the only one who won big at the X games, as a number of athletes claimed top spots.
Other winners at the 2023 X Games
The Summer X Games in California have once again delivered a breathtaking display of extreme sports prowess. In a sensational showdown, Australian prodigy Chloe Covell emerged as the new queen of women’s street skateboarding. Covell’s jaw-dropping performance earned her the coveted gold medal, solidifying her place among the sport’s elite. Meanwhile, in the fiercely competitive men’s park final, the world witnessed a nail-biting battle between two exceptional athletes. Reigning world champion Jagger Eaton and Olympic gold medalist Keegan Palmer clashed in an epic face-off that had fans on the edge of their seats. Ultimately, it was Eaton’s flawless execution that secured him the coveted X Games gold medal.
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With her X Games triumph, Reese Nelson has catapulted herself into the skateboarding stratosphere, becoming an inspiration to aspiring skateboarders worldwide. Her dedication, raw talent, and valuable support from the legend of the sport will continue to defy expectations and shatter age barriers. As this young skateboarding starlet conquers new heights, the world eagerly awaits her next jaw-dropping performance.
Watch this story: Tony Hawk Goes in Awe As Skateboarder Pulls Out an “Insane Trick”
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