Northern Cape skateboarding teen sensation, 15-year-old Kimberley-born, Boipelo Awuah, has qualified to represent South Africa in the Tokyo Olympic Games. The games are due to start next month.
Awuah could be part of a group of 80 skateboarders from across the world who will be making a debut at the Games as the sport makes its first ever appearance. The code was ultimately given the nod after years of lobbying.
Awuah qualified for the Olympics via the World Skateboarding Championships held in the Italian city of Rome earlier this month. Her love for sports started at the age of five.
At the age of nine, she started winning national competitions.
Going to the Olympics is a dream come true for the diminutive teen.
“It means so much to me because I’m from Northern Cape and the female skates out here aren’t at the level of other countries but I’m very proud to be representing South Africa or Africa as a whole at the Tokyo Olympic games,” she says.
Her family is beaming with pride. Boipelo’s father says he saw potential in her when she started winning national competitions, at nine years old.
“I feel so excited and proud. I’m so proud of my daughter this achievement is the first time in my family I never thought it would be, but I got the confidence when she was nine-years when she achieved a national prize,” he says.
Boipelo’s dream is to help other young people to achieve their dreams.
The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) will name the bulk of the squad towards the end of the month. If Awuah is included, she could be the youngest South African Olympian.
