Twelve-year-old Australian Street skater Chloe Covell has won silver at the 2022 World Championships at the Aljada Skate Park in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, earning valuable ranking points towards qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Covell, who is the youngest ever athlete to win two X-Games medals before the age of 13 [silver and bronze in 2022], successfully completed both her runs in the eight-skater World Championships final.
In the best trick section, Covell scored an impressive 83.92 and 83.53 taking her to a total score of 253.5, just 2.07 points behind Brazilian winner Rayssa Leal, with Japan’s Momiji Nishiya rounding out the podium in third.
Speaking to the Olympic Channel after the finals, the Queensland Academy of Sport athlete reflected positively on her silver medal.
"I'm very excited and very grateful. I get to skate for my country and it means a lot to me,” said Covell.
"I was a little bit scared when I crossed out the first trick because I knew I needed to get at least two of my best tricks and I did that.”
“I am very proud of the crook nollie flip that I did. I've been practising that all week."
Australia had five skaters in the top-20 of the Street World Championships, with Liv Lovelace, Haylie Powell, and Flic Turner placing 10th, 14th, and 20th, respectively in the Women’s event. Rome Collyer was the top placed male skater in 20th.
The Aussie action continues in Sharjah this week, with 15 athletes competing in the Park World Championships from 5-12 February 2023. Semi finals and finals will be streamed live on the 11-12 via the Olympic Channel here.
The next stop for street skaters on the road to Paris 2024 will be Rome, Italy for a World Skateboarding Tour stop from 18-25 June.