theboardr.com
Five years after stepping on a skateboard for the first time, Vareeraya Sukasem will represent Thailand at the Olympics, aged just 12.
Vareeraya, known by her nickname "ST", dramatically booked her place at a qualifying event in Budapest last month and will be one of the youngest athletes in Paris.
Feeling "pressured and stressed" going into the event, the last chance to qualify, Vareeraya failed to make the final round and headed to doping control thinking her hopes were dashed.
Vareeraya qualified 18th out of 22 for the women's street skateboarding event, which will be held in the French capital's Place de la Concorde on July 28.
Skateboarding split into park and street events, made its Olympics debut in Tokyo three years ago, with skaters judged on the height and difficulty of their tricks.
© Agence France-Presse
