Poppy's Story
Fast Facts
Sport: Skateboarding
Event: Women's Park
Olympic History: Tokyo 2020
Year Born: 2000
State Born: NSW
About Poppy
Poppy Olsen first picked up a skateboard at the age of eight. Born in Newcastle, Poppy grew up on Bondi Beach deep in the skating and surfing culture and was often the only female to be found in the skate park.
In 2014, Poppy became world champion in the over 14s age group and in 2015 retained this accolade by becoming world champion in the over 15s. She went on to win the professional division at the Vans Combi Classic in 2016, truely cementing her place as one to watch in the world of skateboarding.
Poppy was the first Australian woman to compete in the Summer X Games in 2016 and in 2017 she claimed the X Games bronze medal in the women's skateboard park. That same year she claimed silver at the 2017 World Roller Games held in Nanjing, China.
In 2018, Poppy was awarded a Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship and received mentoring from seven-time world surfing champion Layne Beachley. She also earned herself a scholarship with the NSW Institute of Sport, which offers her access to world-class training facilities and support.
On her Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020 she finish fifth in the women's park final and also won respect for her show of compassion for a despondent rival.
Competing in sweltering conditions, Poppy saved her best run for the final and compiled a score of 46.04 with her second run to secure fifth position.
In a superb show of sportsmanship, Poppy helped console and chair off a despondent Misugu Okamoto from the course. The Japanese star and world no.1 pulled off some spectacular tricks that looked set to win her gold, but she fell just at the end of each run and finished fourth.
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