There are only a handful of Australian athletes still in high school who have managed to make this year’s Olympics – and Narrabeen local Ruby Trew is one of them.
The 15-year-old student was selected to be a part of the nine-member Australian skateboarding team heading to Paris this month.
“Definitely just a relief to finally make the Olympics. It’s been a long journey. I’ve been working really hard, and my family’s been working hard as well to get me there,” Ruby said.
“I’m so stoked that I can finally make that dream come true.”
The year 10 student confirmed her position for the Games at the Olympic Qualifier Series Women’s Park Final in Hungary last month.
Ruby’s dad, James Trew, will attend the Games as the young skateboarder’s accredited coach.
“Getting into the biggest sporting event in the world is a major accomplishment,” James said.
“Being able to share that journey with her. It’s a moment that I’ll treasure for the rest of my life.”
Although Ruby will be among the youngest Australian athletes attending the Olympics she will not be the most juvenile in her team. Arisa Trew (no relation) will be 14 years and almost three months old when competing.
This will make Arisa the seventh youngest Australian Olympian and the youngest to compete in 40 years since Dimity Douglas swam in Los Angeles in 1984.
But in Ruby’s mind, the only number which matters is the digit imprinted on the podium an athlete stands on at the end of their event.
“I definitely want to make an impact. My goal is to win a medal for Australia,” Ruby said.
“I’m gonna work really hard for this last month, and if I put down my best run with my best tricks, that’s all I’m really there for and just having fun and enjoying it while I’m there.
“The Olympics is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. And I still can’t believe that I’m going.”
Ruby celebrated the Olympic qualification yesterday with a special send-off from her classmates and teachers at Narrabeen Sports High.
The event included a Q&A between Ruby and The Australian Olympic Committee, a special assembly and morning tea gifting the Olympian her plane ticket to Paris, followed by a send-off via a tunnel out by her year and school staff.
“I think the role model that she is and how she inspires our students is just amazing,” Principal of Narrabeen Sports High Heidi Currie said during a press conference at the school on Thursday morning, 4 July.
“We have high potential and learning plans so that she can get her work done to a level where she can achieve those milestones along with her friends, and graduate.”
Narrabeen Sports High is a pathway school for many potential Olympians and works with the Australian Olympic Committee to facilitate education programs for busy athletes.
Ruby is the institution’s first athlete to attend the Olympics while still at school, but two former students will be representing Australia in Paris,Class of 2021 student Liv Lovelace for Street Skateboarding and 2018 graduate Sariah Paki, playing in the Rugby Sevens.
The young athlete is no stranger to spending the school year travelling internationally for competitions.
She had just returned from competing in Budapest and the USA where she won a Bronze in the X Games – but her father says competition and school balance are still crucial.
“Oh, for sure she’s got a mountain of schoolwork to catch up on.
“It’s been great for this, you know, for the Australian Olympic Committee to come support sports schools like this, which has given them the freedom to be able to allow Ruby to do stuff online, and change her workload depending on where she is”
Ruby is a dual athlete – becoming the 2019 NSW under-12 state champion and winning the Oz Grom competition for under-12 girls at Lennox Head.
She is well known in the local area for tearing it, whether it be skating or surfing, and the community has shown their support the whole way.
“The Narrabeen community here supported us with like GoFundMe pages. The surf club Narrabeen boardriders… we wouldn’t be here without the support of the community,” James said.
The school, Narrabeen community and Australian Olympic Committee have been crucial in supporting Ruby in her athletic endeavours, but the young gun says her biggest fans are the ones at home.
“My family are my biggest supporters,” she said.
“My dad, also my coach, is my number one supporter and has been there since day one. So we’ve travelled the world together, been to every contest and have that experience together.
“Obviously my mum, she’s been in Australia, but working so hard, and she’ll be able to come to Paris with me and my two little sisters Gwennie and Emily, who also have been supporting coming to the skate park and keeping me company.”
Ruby’s father has been teaching Ruby to skate since she was five and says he may get a little emotional watching her perform at the Games.
“I remember teaching her how to push and then within a few weeks, she was better than me,” James said.
“I get terribly nervous, you’ll be watching me and I’ll be wearing sunglasses, because I’ll get emotional. I won’t be scared to, you know, shed a tear two.”
The layout of the outdoor parks in Paris was only released yesterday morning, implementing ‘street features such as spine ramps, ledges and rails which will put the athlete to the test.
“Every park you can have different tricks and you just have to like make it work in the time you have. So I definitely do have a few tricks up my sleeve, hopefully, I can put down.”
Skaters will have around two 45-minute practices in the park with the eight other skaters in their team before they compete.
Ruby is in Australia for a week to show her support to everyone who helped on her Olympic journey before hopping on a plane to a training facility in Milan and then attending Paris.
