Young Aussie medallist's sweet plane gesture
Australian gold medallist Arisa Trew has warmed hearts after sharing her sweet gesture on the plane back from Paris.
Trew became the youngest Australian to ever win a gold medal at the Paris games after emerging victorious in the skateboarding competition, capturing the hearts of Australia with her incredible performance.
Trew was one of dozens of Aussies who flew back from Paris on Wednesday morning, and explained why she was quick to give up her business class seat as a medallist.
Sunrise host Matt Shirvington said there was a pecking order to the seat allocation on the Qantas plane, explaining, “Apparently, the breakdown is the medallists get first pick of business class, then the two-time Olympians or more get a shot at premium economy, and the rest are out the back of the plane.”
By winning gold, Trew was allowed to be in the expensive business class seats, but she told the Jase & Lauren radio show on Nova radio that she had other plans for the lengthy flight.
“Where did you get to sit on the plane? Because you’re a gold medallist, you’re 14 years old. Were you right up the front?” Lauren Phillips asked Trew.
Trew’s reply stunned the radio hosts, as she admitted, “I mean, I could have been sitting in business with all the medallists, but instead I chose to sit in economy with my two best friends, Chloe and Ruby.”
Those friends are fellow skateboarders Chloe Covell and Ruby Trew who both missed out on medals, hence their seats “out the back”.
“You’re the cutest thing ever. We couldn’t love you anymore,” Phillips said.
“So Arisa, does that mean you got to give someone your gold medal business class seat?”
Trew replied, “I’m pretty sure somebody else got it because me and my friends were walking around the plane, and we went up there, and it was all full. So I definitely think somebody else was sitting there but I don’t mind.”
Trew also revealed she was heading straight back to school after touching down in Australia and would be there bright and early on Thursday.
“I’m gonna go back. I just love going to school, because it’s the skate park where I go to school,” she said.
“So I get to see all my friends that skate, that I skate with every day and train with, my coaches, the teachers. Like, it’s just the best thing in the world.”
Image credits: Ulrik Pedersen/CSM/Shutterstock Editorial