- Arisa Trew did not fly home in business class from Paris
- He was offered the opportunity to travel in luxury.
- But the gold medalist explained why she said no.
Australia’s youngest Olympic gold medallist wouldn’t be blamed for travelling in maximum comfort after her heroics in Paris.
But Arisa Trew explained why she turned down the chance to fly home in business class on Wednesday.
Trew, 14, made history in France by breaking Sandra Morgan’s record, which had stood for 68 years when she won gold in skateboarding and became the youngest Australian to win gold at the Games.
Swimming legend Morgan was 14 years and six months old when he won gold at the 1956 Melbourne Games, while Trew is now 14 years and three months old.
Trew has been praised for her efforts and recently said her parents promised her a pet duck if she won gold in Paris.
And speaking to Nova 100’s Jase and Lauren after stepping off the plane in Australia, Trew revealed he didn’t take up the offer to fly business class (a reward given to all gold medallists from the country) for a very wholesome reason.
“I mean, I could have been sitting in business class with all the other medallists, but instead I chose to sit in economy class with my two best friends, Chloe (Covell) and Ruby (Trew),” she said.
Lauren replied, ‘You’re the cutest thing ever. We couldn’t love you more. So, Arisa, does that mean you have to give someone your gold medal business class seat?’
Arisa Trew flew home in economy class from the Paris Olympics
The Australian became the youngest person from her country to win a gold medal.
Trew said: “I’m pretty sure someone else got it because me and my friends were walking around the plane and we got on and it was packed. So I definitely think someone else was sitting there, but I don’t care.”
Trew has an exciting future ahead of her, as she is sure to secure lucrative sponsorship deals thanks to her Olympic triumph.
But the 14-year-old says there is only one place she wants to be after returning to Australia.
“I love going to school,” she said. “Because it’s the skate park where I go to school. So I get to see all my friends who skate, who I skate with every day and who I train with, my coaches, the teachers. It’s the best thing in the world.”
Trew said a pet duck would suit his busy lifestyle while competing overseas.
“My parents didn’t let me have a dog or a cat because we’re traveling a lot right now,” she said.
‘I feel like a duck might be a little easier.’
The young skater said she will keep her new pet duck in a small pool in her backyard.
But he turned down the chance to fly business class, which is a reward for winning the gold.
Trew is Australia’s first medallist in women’s skateboarding and for the first time Japan has failed to win a gold medal in a women’s skateboarding event after Trew went all out.
Legendary skater Tony Hawke was impressed by the young Australian’s performance.
“She absolutely deserved it, I think she’s paving the way for what’s possible in skateboarding and women’s skateboarding,” she said after her win.