A 51-year-old American skateboarder became the oldest ever to compete in the Olympic Games — and broke that record Wednesday while representing the British team.
Massachusetts native Andy Macdonald has won nine world championships since turning professional 30 years ago. On Wednesday, he made a run for Olympic gold in Paris.
Macdonald was allowed to compete for the Brits because his dad was born roughly 30 miles outside London.
The quinquagenarian skater was eliminated from the men’s competition after finishing 18th in a 22-person field, but said afterwards, “I definitely won the gold medal for most fun.”
Macdonald’s youngest competitor was 16-year-old Viktor Solmunde from Denmark, while Australian skater Keegan Palmer took home the gold for the second straight time, edging out American Ton Scharr of California.
U.S. skating hero Tony Hawk and rapper Snoop Dogg were on hand to watch Macdonald compete in what’s likely to be one of his last major competitive events.
“I could have fallen on every run and just be as happy as I am now. It doesn’t matter,” Macdonald told reporters. “It’s just been the experience of a lifetime.”
The U.S. Olympic team didn’t need a medal from Macdonald to maintain its commanding overall lead in Paris. As of Wednesday night, Team USA had 94 medals, 27 of which were gold.
China, with 25 gold medals and 65 in total, is their closest competitor. Great Britain has 49 medals, 12 of which are gold.
With News Wire Services
