Sky Brown has already nabbed a medal at the Olympics for skateboarding — now, the action-sports phenom will be showcasing her surfing skills in her hometown.
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Brown, who grew up in Huntington Beach, will be competing at the Lexus US Open of Surfing as a wildcard entry, earning a spot in the contest to go up against big-name surfers who are trying to rack up points to join the elite World Tour.
Brown, who is now calling San Clemente home, isn’t shy about revealing her hopes to compete in both sports during the LA2028 Olympics.
“That’s something that’s never been done before, and I’m working hard every day to make it happen,” Brown said in an interview with the World Surf League. “My goal is to stand on top of the podium with at least one gold medal, and events like the US Open are a huge step on that journey. I’m excited to go out there, surf with freedom, learn from the best, and show everyone what I’ve got.”
Brown, who started competing in skateboarding at a young age, became the youngest Olympian ever when she earned bronze at age 13 when the sport debuted in the Tokyo Games.
She then earned another bronze medal, competing again for Great Britain, at the Paris Games 2024.
But Brown also grew up near the beach, surfing the famed Huntington Beach Pier, and is just as passionate about surfing, she has said, competing in recent years at qualifying series and pro junior events.
She earned a runner up at the Siargao International Surfing Cup QS 3,000 in 2023, and has multiple third-place finishes at various contests in recent years, according to the World Surf League.
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“I love both sports equally, and I haven’t really had the chance to show people what I can do in surfing yet, even though I surf every day when I can,” Brown said in the interview with the WSL. “So this feels like an amazing opportunity to do that.”
Brown said she’s “stoked” about competing at the US Open of Surfing.
“The US Open is one of the most iconic events in surfing, so getting a wildcard is a huge honor,” she told the WSL. “It means a lot that the WSL believes in me and has given me this opportunity.”
She’ll be competing against elite surfers like Erin Brooks and Sierra Kerr, both who she grew up surfing alongside.
“We’ve all pushed each other over the years, and now we get to battle it out at such an iconic event,” she said. “That’s going to be so much fun.”
She’s also excited to compete in front of family, friends and fans.
“It’s really special. Southern California has always been a home to me. I’ve grown up surfing these beaches, skating these streets, and so many of my friends and family will be there,” she said. “Having that support means everything, and it’s always extra motivating to compete in front of a home crowd.”
Her biggest goal is to keep improving, to see how far she can go in both sports she loves.
“I want to compete against the best in the world, keep learning every time I paddle out, and inspire more girls to believe they can chase big dreams in whatever they love,” Brown said. “Most of all, I never want to lose the joy I feel every time I get in the ocean.”
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