Skateboard ace Palmer out to fend off the kids – at 21
With a second Olympic gold from two Games in his pocket at just 21, Keegan Palmer is planning to return to Australia and plot a commanding reign as the king of skateboard.
The US-based, Gold Coaster was quick to declare after his consummate park victory in Paris that he wants to scoop up all the big titles going in the sport and he’s mapping out his return to Queensland, using it a base to launch a dominating era.
But even with the praise of skateboarding’s ‘GOAT’ Tony Hawk ringing in his ears, Palmer knows his sport is evolving so fast, especially after being such a big attraction at the fabulous La Concorde skate park, that he’ll find it a major challenge to cope with a teenage generation ready to dethrone him.
He doesn’t have to look very far to appreciate the depth of talent emerging, as he stands in awe of 14-year-old Arisa Trew, Australia’s youngest Olympic champ who took the equivalent women’s title, having learned at the same Elanora Skatepark that he did.
“That’s definitely the goal,” said Palmer, when asked if he could envisage ruling the roost for years to come in the burgeoning sport.
“I just got to make sure I keep up with this younger generation and be able to hold out. I’m not saying I’m ancient at 21, but look at Arisa – she’s 14 and already spinning 540s.
“And all the kids at the next few qualifying events leading into the Los Angeles Games in 2028, it’s going to be wild because such is the speed of the evolution of skating.
“But I won’t be over the hill at 25. That’ll be prime for me. I’ll be even stronger, healthier, have new tricks, like those tricks that I wanted to do today but was bummed that I couldn’t when I fell on the last run.
“So now we can save it for the next time.”
The watching Hawk, who revelled in watching the Aussie’s triumph along with celebrities like Snoop Dogg and French swimming hero Leon Marchand, believes there is so much to come from Palmer.
“We’ve seen skaters not even reaching their peak in performance into their 30s, so Keegan’s got a long career ahead of him,” said the man who was hailed by Palmer as “the god of skateboarding”.
The key destination in that career will be the Brisbane Olympics in 2032, where, in his dreams, he could be going for a fourth consecutive gold.
“Definitely the goal would be to do those Games, just because it’s where I grew up, where I learned how to skate.”
To that end, he plans to relocate to Gold Coast from his San Diego base once the house he’s having built in the pricey Burleigh Heights suburbs has been completed.
“You’ve just got to keep up with all these kids that are coming through because skateboarding is a young, generational sport,” shrugged Palmer.
“So I’m excited and I’m moving back as soon as my house is done being built for sure.”
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