Would he glide into the arena on his skateboard or be brought in on a wheelchair? And if he managed to hang out with the kids, would he be able to stand up afterward?
If he happened to take a tumble and fracture an arthritic bone while attempting a stunt, at least he would be in a suitable place – he could have it wrapped in plaster of Paris.
As we waited for the arrival of Team GB’s Andy Macdonald, at 51 the oldest individual to ever compete in Olympic skateboarding – a discipline often linked with teenagers wearing caps backward – the banter was lively and plentiful.
By the end of the competition, during which the French audience embraced the so-called Rad Dad, booing the judges for giving him low scores while cheering him on as he took a victory lap, a new Eddie the Eagle had emerged.
It may be unfair to liken him to Eddie, the bumbling Gloucestershire ski-jumper whose amusing shortcomings at the 1988 Winter Olympics made his name synonymous with spectacular British failures.
As we awaited the entrance of Team GB ‘s Andy Macdonald, the oldest ever Olympic skateboarding competitor, the jokes flew thick and fast
In a career spanning more than three decades, Macdonald’s street cred grew as he won a string of competitions
Andy Macdonald getting some pointers from Tony Hawk
The 51-year-old skateboarding veteran’s performance smacked of the plucky but out-of-his-depth Eddie the Eagle
After all, old Macdonald was once an exceptional performer in his field.
His career, spanning over three decades, saw his reputation soar as he clinched numerous titles, even showcasing his skills in a skateboarding demonstration at the White House.
However, the passage of time has certainly had its impact, and much about his unexpected participation in these Games felt reminiscent of the plucky yet out-of-his-depth Eddie.
One didn’t even need to glance at his birth year on the competition entry list – 1973 – to realize he was up against skateboarders younger than his 18-year-old son.
The differences were stark; contrasting his middle-aged physique with that of his competitors, whose T-shirts draped elegantly over their fit frames.
From the moment Macdonald attempted his first ‘flip,’ it was clear that the springs in his knees had seen better days. He simply couldn’t leap as high as the younger crowd.
He took his first fall while practicing and suffered a harsher tumble during his initial competition run, after which he was, as expected, eliminated.
Yet you had to tip your hat to his courage – and unlike Eddie, he didn’t lag far behind, finishing 18th out of 22 participants.
Despite everything, he radiated joy when speaking to the eager journalists – so many that one could have mistaken him for having won a gold medal.
Did he believe the judges might have been biased against him due to his age, I queried.
No, he graciously responded, acknowledging that he had heard the crowd boo when his low scores were announced, but asserted that skateboarding was more an art than a sport, and judging was subjective. ‘I was like, this is fun no matter what age you are,’ he beamed.
‘This is the coolest, most enjoyable, and inclusive thing you can do. It’s like a fountain of youth! I’ve been doing it since I was 12, and I’m 51, still loving every second of it.’
Although he represents Great Britain, Macdonald speaks with an American accent and resides in California. His ties to the UK are somewhat tenuous.
His father, Roderick, who moved to the US, was born in Luton, and he also possesses Scottish heritage. Additionally, he recently learned of a third cousin living in Kent.
Before the pandemic, he earned his living as a skateboarder, but with Covid forcing the suspension of events, his sponsorships dwindled, prompting him to embark on his journey to Paris.
You have to doff your cap to him, having managed to finish 18th out of 22 competitors
Although he represents Great Britain, Macdonald has an American accent and lives in California
Macdonald switched his international allegiance to Team GB in 2022 after the launch of the sport at the Olympics in 2021
As he had no opportunity to qualify for the US team, he secured a British passport through his father’s nationality, barely meeting the necessary requirements in a competition in Budapest in June.
When he shared the news with his wife Rebecca, who once lived in Paris and whom he had vowed to return her to, she was overjoyed. He has savored every moment of the Olympics, but as a scruffy skateboarder, he was surprised to receive the team’s formal suit and questioned why it was necessary.
‘In case the King invites you for tea,’ he was told. ‘Oh! good idea!’ he responded.
Before he departed, I inquired if we might see him in Los Angeles four years later. ‘Do they want 59-year-olds at the Olympics?’ he chuckled at his own error in calculation. Well, probably not.
For one splendid day, however, the Eddie the Eagle of skateboarding reminded us grandfathers that age is merely a number.
