After helping to create a slice of history at this year's Olympics, Kieran Woolley continues to blaze a path for young Aussie skateboarders.
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The Minnamurra teenager was among 16 athletes this week to be inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame's 2022 Scholarship and Mentoring Program. While a range of sporting disciplines are featured, Woolley is the sole skateboarder on the list.
Participants include an array of Olympians and Paralympic athletes.
The program aims to provide support to young stars in their quest for success, with each scholarship holder receiving a $2500 grant.
Woolley's father Mark said his son was excited to be included in the program.
"It's really interesting to see skateboarding, now because of the Olympics I guess, being mixed in with normal sports. It's nice to see recognition from one of the peak sporting bodies, but it's also an opportunity to network with experienced sportspeople and get insight into what's made a difference for them," he said.
"It's all independent work (in skateboarding), it's all about working out things for yourself, so the funding will provide another trip overseas or some food on the table for Kieran."
Woolley was among the first crop of skateboarders to ever compete at an Olympic Games in August.
The 17-year-old made an impression in Tokyo, entering the final as the second seed after shining in the heats, but a fall proved costly as he finished fifth overall. Woolley's event was taken out by Australian teammate Keegan Palmer.
After the Games, Woolley headed to the US, where he became stranded when Australia increased lockdown protocols and his flight home was cancelled. However, that setback turned out to be a blessing in disguise, allowing the teenager to train with fellow skateboarders Jack Fardell and Sky Brown.
The trip has allowed Woolley to do some surfing while he also continues to build a following on TikTok, with one video recently getting seven million views.
In the past few weeks, Woolley moved south, where he remains based in Mexico.
"He's been training hard and been doing some team clips, so filming and photography. He had a two-page feature in the latest Thrasher magazine, which is a really big deal in the skateboarding world," Mark Woolley said.
"Kieran's unofficially skateboarding in Mexico just to reset his ESTA (visa), and then he's back to the US before heading off to Barcelona in about a month. Monarch, his skateboard company, are doing a team trip over, and I think he's then going to do a Tampa (Pro) competition coming up at the end of November.
"Kieran doesn't rest too much, but it's all fun for him."
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Joshua Bartlett
A sporting fanatic who is keen to promote all codes in the Illawarra and abroad. Mercury's chief football reporter.
A sporting fanatic who is keen to promote all codes in the Illawarra and abroad. Mercury's chief football reporter.
