A little luck and a “good kick in the butt”.
It may not sound like much, but for Great Britain Instead McDonald’sit was the unique combination that saw him secure an amount* spot in the NOC for the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
Heading to Olympic Qualifying Series (OQS) Budapest, the 50-year-old skateboard he had a mountain to climb.
Sitting 38th at World Olympic Skateboarding Ranking ahead of the second leg of the OQS, Macdonald was some way off the bubble that rewards those with a place in Paris.
This meant that the latest trip to Hungary was, in effect, a last-chance saloon for the words record holder. one last chance to make the Olympiakos “Hail Mary long shot” tilt.
“When I got here, I just had to come up with a series that’s the most filled with the most difficult tricks I’ve ever done – all together,” Macdonald told Olympics.com in an exclusive interview, opening up about the reality of his strategy.
It was risky. And when Macdonald fell in his first two runs his coach stepped in to suggest he change course.
“I’m like, ‘No, that’s it. It’s every point I can get. I have to get it. I have to do it all,” continued the Briton.
Macdonald’s ‘all-in’ approach paid off. To the warm applause of the packed stands watching the legendary skater warm up one of the qualifiers he delivered in style. And, somewhat remarkably, as the four matches unfolded, MacDonald’s score saw him advance to the semi-finals.
The day after the action, the Briton’s luck came.
Although he couldn’t make a clear run he didn’t either Jagger Eaton and Macdonald’s superior rating meant he finished 15th with access to a number of valuable ranking points which eventually pushed him into the cut.
*As National Olympic Committees have sole authority to represent their respective countries at the Olympic Games, athletes’ participation in the Paris Games depends on the NOC’s selection to represent their delegation at Paris 2024.
Click here to see the official qualifying system for each sport.