The Australian phenomenon won last year’s Laureus Action Sportsperson of the Year Award after becoming the first female in competition to land a 720, a trick involving two full rotations in mid-air. Then, just a month after receiving the award, she became the first woman to land a 900 with two and a half rotations.
She continued her history-making streak three months later at the Paris Olympics when, aged 14 years, two months and 26 days, she won the skateboard park gold medal, making her Australia’s youngest-ever Olympic champion. Wearing her trademark pink helmet, she produced a near-perfect third run and made a heart shape with her hands when the winning score of 93.18 flashed up on the big screen.
