logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2022
18m 38s

The women breaking into skateboarding in...

Bbc World Service
About this episode

Skateboarding is one of the fastest growing sports in the world; it was included for the first time in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games in Japan. It's becoming increasingly popular among women and girls, but it does come with a price tag.

Hannah Mullane speaks to Boipelo Awuah, one of only two female African athletes to qualify to compete in skateboarding at the Tokyo Olympics. Wendy Gila, the head of the South African Roller Sports Association, gives us her insight into how much it costs to make a sport like skateboarding accessible to everyone.

Mark Sedgwick meets Thato Moet, Founder of IslandGals, a girls only skate group in Johannesburg. She gives her perspective on what it’s like to be a female skater in South Africa. We’ll also hear from Pieter Retief, who helps to build skateparks all over the world and explains how they help to bring together communities. Presenter and producer: Hannah Mullane Reporter and producer: Mark Sedgwick

Image: Girls skating in Soweto; Credit: BBC

Up next
Today
The cocoa conundrum
<p>Can Europe be weaned off cheap chocolate? EU efforts to block cocoa linked to deforestation were due to come into force at the end of this year – but have faced multiple delays. Another vote is due to take place soon. Some parties are pushing for further delay and modification ... Show More
20m 42s
Yesterday
Is this the end for South East Asia's scam centres?
<p>It’s one of the biggest human trafficking operations of modern times. Scam centres across South East Asia have been making hundreds of billions of dollars annually, it’s estimated, conning people into fake crypto-currency investment schemes. </p><p>But now these centres could ... Show More
18m 29s
Nov 24
Monetising Machu Picchu
<p>Peru is home to Machu Picchu - the ancient Inca city in the Andes mountains. </p><p>It's one of the seven wonders of the world, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The popular tourist destination attracts millions of visitors, making it very lucrative for the government, local a ... Show More
17m 38s
Recommended Episodes
Jun 2021
Skating my way through life
<p>Skateboarding is no longer an outsider sport for rebellious young men: more women are getting on the board and embracing the lifestyle that comes with it. Kim Chakanetsa talks to two women who are trying to make skating a more inclusive and welcoming community for women across ... Show More
27m 17s
Jun 2015
How to Skate Like a Girl, Part 1
<p>Since skateboarding arrived in the 1950s, women like Patti McGee, Peggy Oki and Elissa Steamer have proven that skating like a girl isn't second-rate. Cristen and Caroline shred the history of women in skateboarding and how it evolved from a gender-neutral California pastime i ... Show More
43m 2s
Jul 2015
How to Skate Like a Girl, Part 2
<p>Since skateboarding arrived in the 1950s, women like Patti McGee, Peggy Oki and Elissa Steamer have proven that skating like a girl isn't second-rate. Cristen and Caroline shred the history of women in skateboarding and how it evolved from a gender-neutral California pastime i ... Show More
58m 49s
Sep 2020
Lizzie Armanto
Skateboarding unicorn Lizzie Armanto joins Kelley to talk about her uncharted path through the world of professional skating. Lizzie discusses the importance of skate park culture to her early education in the sport, why an injury of all things was what convinced her to go pro, t ... Show More
45m 40s
Aug 2021
Olympics -girls and urban sports; Disability & dating; Bobbi Brown; Emma-Jean Thackray; Women talking about men; Lucy St Louis
Will the young women smashing it at the Olympics in the new urban sports of BMX freestyling, Skateboarding and Sport Climbing inspire a new generation of girls to follow in their footsteps? Skateboarder Hannah Shrewsbury and BMX freestyler Kayley Ashworth discuss. Women trash-tal ... Show More
55m 19s
Sep 2020
Madison Hammond: I didn’t think I’d be the first anything in sport
Madison Hammond is the first Native American woman to sign a professional contract with an NWSL club. She joins us ahead of OL Reign’s opening game of the season and her potential debut against Utah Royals to discuss how she is hoping to inspire more Native American girls to play ... Show More
48m 55s
Sep 2023
Women in Beirut: Promoting women’s rights through sport
<p>Kim Chakanetsa meets two trailblazing athletes who help promote women’s participation in sports.</p><p>Ray Bassil is the first Arab woman to compete in three Olympic games and win three consecutive World Cup medals in trap shooting. Ray has become a prominent figure in Lebanes ... Show More
27m 14s
Aug 2023
Tony Hawk
Tony Hawk is the #1 ambassador of skateboarding, a man who is, by definition, bigger than his sport. Now in his fifties, Tony is still pushing the boundaries of skating and continuing to invent new tricks, while his foundation, The Skatepark Project, has helped to build over 700 ... Show More
34m 51s
Jul 2023
BBC OS Conversations: Women in sport
The Women’s World Cup is underway and global attention is once again on women in sport. Host James Reynolds brings together Preeti Singh, a national and international basketball player for India, lawyer and former England netball player Eboni Usoro-Brown and Jennifer Jones, one o ... Show More
23m 58s