Tom Schaar Claims Silver

In Skateboarding’s Olympic Debut at Paris 2024

Being part of Team USA for skateboarding at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris was a “pretty crazy and a lifetime opportunity” for Malibu’s Tom Schaar, especially since it marked the first time the sport was included in the Games. On August 7, Schaar claimed the silver medal in men’s park skateboarding, scoring an impressive 92.23. He finished just behind his close friend, Australia’s Keegan Palmer, who took the gold with a score of 93.11. Brazil’s Augusto Akio secured the bronze medal. Schaar became the third U.S. skater to win a medal at the Paris Games.

Reflecting on his Olympic experience, Schaar expressed his excitement, saying, “I think people are fully embracing skateboarding in the Olympics. Paris definitely showed us love!” Adding to the thrill, Schaar had a memorable encounter with Snoop Dogg, who congratulated him after his second run in the finals while “Still D.R.E.” played in the background—an unforgettable moment for the 24-year-old skater.Heading into the Paris Games, Schaar was ranked fourth in the world, alongside fellow U.S. skaters Tate Carew and Gavin Bottger, who were ranked first and third, respectively. Both Schaar and Carew advanced to the eight-skater final, with Schaar finishing second and Carew in fourth.

In the final, Schaar delivered a strong first run, performing a tailgrab 540 and an alley-oop kickflip Indy, which earned him a score of 90.11 and briefly put him in first place. The competition was fierce as Schaar and Palmer traded places at the top. Schaar’s second run featured a heelflip Indy, an alley-oop 540, and a kickflip Indy to fakie, with skateboarding legend Tony Hawk cheering him on from the sidelines. Hawk, a longtime admirer of Schaar, had earlier welcomed him to the Birdhouse Skateboards team.

Schaar first made headlines in 2012 when he landed the first-ever 1080 on a mega ramp—a feat that solidified his reputation in the skateboarding world. Hawk has since praised him as “the best all-around transition skater there is.” As for the future, Schaar hopes to compete in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, drawing inspiration from British X Games veteran Andy MacDonald, who competed in Paris at the age of 51.