(Author: Natalia Miernik)
As an avid Olympic fan and someone who is fascinated by the wide age range of athletes, I was particularly drawn to Andy MacDonald, the 51-year-old skateboarding sensation on Team Great Britain.
Given the physical demands typical of most sports, the Olympic Games are often associated with the recognition of young, exceptional talent. Indeed, skateboarding was included in the Tokyo 2021 Olympic programme to attract a younger audience, which is understandable given the sport’s association with youth and rebellion. But that didn’t stop ‘cool dad’ Andy MacDonald. Andy, a father of three, will challenge age discrimination in sport by competing today alongside two of his British teammates – Lola Tambling and Sky Brown, both 16 – while their rival, Zheng Haohao of China, will be the youngest athlete competing at just 12 years old.
Andy’s participation in the competition is a clear reminder that ageism has no place in any workplace, not even the Olympics. His skills and wealth of experience in skateboarding (he has won 22 medals at the X-Games) have not diminished with time and show that age is just a number and not a testament to a person’s achievement. Andy’s story challenges our notion of the importance of youth in sport and instead encourages us to also appreciate the value of experience, determination and longevity.
The large age difference between Andy and his teammates and competitors has led to some perceiving Andy as “the old guy at the skate park.” However, Andy easily shrugs off such stereotypes and focuses on the community aspect of the sport, where 50-year-olds can have “Wednesday night jams” on the ramp and share space with teenagers. In fact, I think mixing different generations allows for the integration of different styles and experiences and is a perfect example of how any workplace can benefit from diversity.
So Andy MacDonald’s story is a reminder that it’s not about age (or any other protected characteristic). It’s about performance. The bigger the talent pool, the greater the chance of success.
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