“I tried my best”: Heartbreaking scenes as famous dad consoles Aussie Olympic teen
Chloe Covell, the 14-year-old skateboard sensation, was left in tears midway through the final round of the street skateboarding event in Paris, when she struggled to land her tricks and repeatedly fell.
At 14 years and 170 days, the teen was striving to become the youngest Australian to win a gold medal, and was even competing with a splint on her left hand after breaking two of her fingers.
The record for the youngest Australian to win a gold medal is still held by Sandra Morgan, who was 14 years old and 183 days when she was was a member of the victorious 4x100m freestyle team at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.
The teen made a promising start with her first run, but struggled with her attempts after that.
After conceding her third trick, the teen was in tears but pushed on, and despite the cheers from the crowd she struggled to smash her final two attempts as she fell on the concrete.
Covell finished on 70.33, and although she was unable to realise her Olympics dream in Paris, the teen is looking on the bright side.
“I tried my best and I just couldn’t land much. But it’s all good,” Covell said.
“I just wanted to keep trying and not give up.
“It was very hard work to get here ... I just have to come back better and stronger for the next time.”
Her father, former NRL player Luke Covell, immediately embraced his daughter on the course and shielded her further by taking over media duties.
He said he was proud of her for not giving up, even tough she struggled in the first round where she rallied to qualify fourth.
“It’s not always someone’s day,” Luke said.
“We knew if you wanted to go for a medal, that you just had to go for it.
“She did her best, it wasn’t her day, I’m just glad she backed herself and didn’t take the easy option.”
He added that the splint on her hand was “definitely not” a factor.
“When you get to the Olympic final, no one remembers who comes fourth,” he said.
“All the girls were going for their best tricks.”
Japan’s Coco Yoshizawa won the gold medal with a total score of 272.75, beating compatriot Liz Akama’s 265.95.
Australians Liv Lovelace and Haylie Powell also missed out on spots in a final where the ages ranged from 14 to 19.
Images: Nine/ Instagram / Skate Australia