Andy Macdonald, 51, is Team GB skateboard hero who loves Lion bars and on sugar high after Paris 2024 Olympics ‘miracle’
SWEET-TOOTH Andy Macdonald is hungry to take his time and soak up the Olympics – despite being roared on by a Lion bar sugar rush.
The legendary skateboarder turns 51 on the day he travels out to Paris with 16-year-olds Sky Brown and Lola Tambling to represent Team GB, his father and grandfather’s homeland.
And the California-based X Games hero is as excited as a kid in a sweetshop – quite literally.
Macdonald adores Lion bars – and his family are more concerned that he brings home chocolate than a medal from the 2024 Olympic Games.
Speaking to SunSport earlier in July, the ‘Rad Dad’ said: “I’ve never drank alcohol, I don’t smoke, I don’t do any drugs. My vice is candy.
“I think I’m the only pro skateboarder to have a candy sponsor. For a few years, I rode for Red Vines Licorice so I got paid to eat candy. I was up to a pack a day so it’s probably good that didn’t continue on.
“Every time I come I share my American candy. I’m a big candy guy so I bring Red Vines Licorice and Caramel M&Ms to all the events.
“I make sure they bring me a Lion bar. I can’t get Lion bars over in America and you guys got them everywhere.
“I’ve been in London now for 24 hours and I haven’t had a Lion bar yet.
“The last thing my wife said to me when she dropped me off at the airport is, ‘Come back with Lion bars.’
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“I’ll make sure that in the schedule I’ve got to run to the store, of course.”
Macdonald told SunSport before the final round of Olympic qualifying that he needed a “mathematical miracle” to make it to Paris.
And he got that, securing his place by the skin of his teeth after nailing his best run for two-and-a-half years and then needing a massive helping hand.
Macdonald’s effort saw him go sixth in the table – a sitting duck with 11 skateboarders left and needing to finish in the top 16 to qualify.
He explained: “I was completely bubble boy and then Pedro Barros dropped in. He’s the silver medalist from Tokyo and was going to bump me out.
“He dropped in and fell, next round dropped in and fell again so it was last round, last chance.
“My coach said if Pedro makes his run you get 17th, if he falls you get 16th and you go to the Olympics. Pedro dropped in and fell.”
Macdonald – who angered the Secret Service when he skateboarded through the White House – added: “Although I’ve been a professional for 30 years and travelled all over the world, skating in every kind of competition, the Olympics is going to be a nice new experience.
“I’ve never represented a country before or worn a uniform. Now I have a Team GB suit.
“I’m going to first and foremost enjoy the experience. My wife and my oldest son are going to come and join me.
“I promised my wife to take her to Paris as often as I could so this is an opportunity to be in Paris with my wife.
“She speaks French and she used to live in Paris so it’ll be just neat for her to be part of this and a part of the Olympics.”
Eurosport's Olympic line-up in full
Presenters:
- Laura Woods
- Orla Chennaoui
- Craig Doyle
Reporters:
- Reshmin Chowdhury
- Radzi Chinyanganya
- Jaydee Dyer
- Caroline de Moraes
- Becky Ives
- Rachel Stringer
- Laura Winter
- Matt Smith
- Kate Mason
Pundits:
- Adam Blythe
- Tom Daley
- Laura Robson
- Shauna Coxsey
- Carl Frampton
- Stef Reid
- Joanna Roswell
- Ellie Simmonds
- Lizzie Simmonds
- Iwan Thomas
- Nile Wilson