Skateboarding Across the Seine: Andy MacDonald Checks In Before Paris Olympics
Despite being the oldest skateboarder heading to the Paris Olympics, Andy Macdonald is still a force to be reckoned with on wheels.
The Preston & Steve Show welcomed Olympian Andy MacDonald to the show via zoom. He’s currently in Woodward, PA hosting the 13th annual Andy Mac Up-Hill Tic-Tac Race and teaching kids the joy of the sport that he loves so much.
Despite being the oldest skateboarder heading to the Paris Olympics, Andy is still a force to be reckoned with on wheels.
The 9x Skateboarding World Champion will turn 51 on the day that he heads to Paris for the 2024 Olympic Games. Although he’s a Boston, Mass native, Andy is using his dual citizenship to compete for Team Great Britan (thanks dad!).
Andy shared with Preston & Steve that he sought after the British team for an array of reasons. Celebrating his heritage is up there, but they’re also “about 15 years behind on skateboarding” compared to the universal acceptance of the sport in America. Since it is so popular here, that also means that Team U.S.A. is more competitive to score a spot. And those competitors are young.
Andy started professionally skating in 1994, and in his 30-year career, he's been in 2 video games, countless X Games, and the Nitro World Championship of skateboarding. Andy holds the greatest number of medals in X Games vert skating. He has also made White House appearances in support of Anti-Drug movements, and even left his mark by skateboarding down the marble floors in our highest office!
Casey Boy, who just turned 49 on July 4th asked the 50year professional athlete: How do you keep your age a nonfactor in your sport? It's the same as when I was 12 years old. “It's how I stay fit physically and mentally”. Luckily, skateboarding is one of the only sports where the athletes don't have a shelf life. Andy also stays in shape with an Olympic sized trampoline (with breaks).
Preston, a doting father, asks: Since there are children competing in this sport, have you taken up a “dad” role? Andy is a patriarchal figure in the Olympic scene. He brings experience, knowledge, and wisdom. To him, skateboarding is a fountain of youth.
Are there limitations on skateboarding? You can skateboard however you want! We're still learning the limits of what can be done. For some it's casual, for others it's cool tricks. Skateboarding is still a relatively new sport.
And Steve, a red-blooded patriot asks: Are they still pissed off about that Boston tea party? I have been a lifelong tea drinker, and none of my British teammates do - they drink coffee!
Are you going to be able to wear your signature yellow helmet? Yeah, I can! Rule 50 is all about the logos. Rule 50 says you can’t have any logos - they are very serious about it. No logos other than the company that manufactures the equipment.
Watch Andy Macdonald’s full interview with The Preston & Steve Show on 93.3 WMMR, Philly below. And catch Andy MacDonald at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Men’s Skateboarding Park Prelims & Finals air Wednesday, August 7th .
- Mikey Siedell, The Preston & Steve Show Staff
