Rad Thai! Meet the schoolgirl skater, 12, representing Thailand at Paris 2024 Olympics

An awesome schoolgirl skateboarder will be representing Thailand at the 2024 Olympics in Paris this year.

Vareeraya Sukasem, 12, who also goes by the nickname 'ST', will be one of the youngest athletes to compete at the Olympic urban sports events at the Place de la Concorde, which will be held on July 28.

The youngster had qualified 18th out of 22 for women's street skateboarding in the Olympic Qualifier Series in Budapest, Hungary, last month.

She said: 'I felt tremendously nervous and proud of myself because all the participants in the contest were exceptional, and I felt like an observer from the lowest rank.

'However, it also comes down to everyone's mistakes. Some might be better than me but made mistakes during the course.

'I feel happy to participate in this year's Olympics. I feel prepared and I am just aiming to do my best.'

Vareeraya began skateboarding at age seven, on her mother's suggestion, when a new skateboard park was opened near their home. 

Her mum, Tulraya Chantawong, would take her to the park almost daily after school for exercise, and she would watch in awe as the older kids performing challenging tricks on their skateboards.

She said: 'My curiosity drove me to want to try doing those tricks myself. I tried to learn some tricks from my friends in order to develop my skills during the early stages.

'It's fun because skateboarding is a small community where you can make many friends. Playing alone can be lonely.'

The schoolgirl said she takes inspiration from Brazilian skateboarder Rayssa Leal, a fellow woman in the male-dominated sport.

Together with her family and her coach, American national Kenny Reed, Vareeraya will depart Thailand on July 21 to go to Paris.

She said: 'I feel some pressure but I am excited to become a Thai girl representative to compete in this sport.'

- TRANSCRIPT -

0.38 - 0.45 Hello, my name is Vareeraya Sukasem. My nickname is ST. I am 12 years old and I am a skateboarder for the national team

0.45 - 0.56 I started skateboarding when I was 7 years old due to my mother's suggestion, coinciding with the opening of a new skateboard park nearby

0.56 - 1.03 My mother took me to the skateboard park almost every day after school for exercise

1.04 - 1.19 At first, I didn't know much about skateboarding. I watched older skateboarders and friends my age doing difficult or unfamiliar tricks, but my curiosity drove me to want to try them myself

1.20 - 1.29 I tried to learn some tricks from them in order to develop my skills during the early stages

1.30 - 1.41 It's fun because skateboarding is a small community where you can make many friends. Playing alone can be lonely

1.41 - 1.57 Skateboarding's charm lies in playing with friends and meeting new people. Sometimes, I visited various skateparks hosting activities or contests, which added to my enjoyment

1.58 - 2.11 My favourite tricks are feeble, crooked, and back lip. I enjoy playing with handrails, as you can see in my performance in the larger sections

2.11 - 2.19 For medium and smaller rails, I use them to practice new tricks that I'm not yet confident in.

2.19 - 2.25 When I'm confident with a trick, I will use the larger rails because they score better according to the criteria

2.25 - 2.35 I plan to use kickflip crooked because no one has performed this trick in women's skateboarding at the Olympics

2.35 - 2.52 I learned interesting tricks from male skateboarders in the Olympics, so I'm particularly interested in this trick because it hasn't been done in women's skateboarding. I want to have my own signature trick

2.52 - 3.00 Rayssa Leal from Brazil has been my inspiration ever since I started skateboarding

3.00 - 3.12 My parents have done everything for me—they supported, pushed, and planned for every practise and contest

3.12 - 3.28 They assisted, inspired, and provided a positive attitude when I felt discouraged or afraid to play. Both of them supported me, being my mirror from the back

3.29 - 3.48 I felt tremendously nervous and proud of myself because all the participants in the contest were exceptional, and I felt like an observer from the lowest rank

3.48 - 3.55 However, it also comes down to everyone's mistakes. Some might be better than me but made mistakes during the course

3.55 - 4.06 I felt happy to participate in this year's Olympics. I felt prepared and aimed to do my best

4.06 - 4.21 Even though I couldn't bring a medal for Thailand in my first Olympics, I intend to aim for one in this or the next opportunity