8 Youngest Active Female Pro Skateboarders

Traditionally, skateboarding is a male-dominated sport, but girls and women have always been interested in also participating. In fact, the first pro female skateboarder was Patti McGee, who turned pro in 1965! 

Despite early achievements in the sport, female skateboarders have never really achieved the same level of fame and recognition as their male counterparts. However, things have changed in the past few years, especially after the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. 

During those games, which were held in 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, skateboarding made its Olympic debut. And all of the young girls on this list took the world by storm, impressing everyone with their tricks and camaraderie. 

These young female pro skaters are definitely going to influence younger generations to also get into the sport. 

8. Brighton Zeuner (July 14, 2004 – Present) 

photo source: People.com

Brighton Zeuner gained global recognition when she won the Women’s Skateboard Park, making her the youngest gold medalist at the X Games Minneapolis in 2017 at 13 years old.

Zeuner is the youngest female X Games competitor ever, as she skateboarded in the X Games competition at the age of 11 in 2016.

The young pro skater’s father and brother played a big role in encouraging her to pursue skateboarding. She practiced with her brother until she got her own skateboard and her skills grew quickly. 

In an effort to balance her skating career with her education, Zeuner chose to attends a school that let’s her leave when she needs to compete. 

Did You Know?

Zeuner has spent most of her birthdays pursuing championships — an indication of just how much she loves skating. One of the reasons she is passionate about the sport is because both women and men get paid equally.

7. Isadora Pacheco ( March 29, 2005 – Present) 

photo source: Google.com

Isadora Pecheco is an experienced Brazilian skateboarder who impacted the sport significantly in her country.

Born in Florianópolis, a city in southern Brazil that is famous for surfing and skateboarding culture, Pecheco grew up near a skate park and developed an interest in the sport at a young age. Her desire to skate soon translated into learning and mastering the sport, and it wasn’t long before the young skater became renowned in her country.

Pecheco went on to become a brand ambassador of Puma; during her competitions, she wears the suede PUMA classic sneakers. She was ranked 10^th in the Summer Olympic games, and has participated in other competitions, including STU Nationals Brazil Park Women’s and Red Bull Generations.

Did You Know?

Isadora Pachecod was only five years old when she decided that skating was the path she wanted to pursue. She practiced almost every single day throughout her childhood and adolescence.

6. Funa Nakayama (June 17, 2005 – Present) 

photo source: Boardriding

Funa Nakayama is a professional Japanese skater who participated in the 2020 Summer Olympic Games. She walked away with the bronze medal in the Women’s Street Competition. (inspireclion.com)

Nakayama was born and raised in Toyama City, Japan, where she learned and perfected her skating skills. She has competed in several competitions throughout her career, including the 2018 Japan Skateboarding Championships and the Street League Skateboarding Tour. She is currently ranked 8^th in the world.

Did You Know?

Funa Nakayama started skating at the age of 9, and was greatly inspired by her father, who is passionate about the sport.

5. Misugu Okamoto (June 22, 2006 – Present) 

photo source: Kyodo News

Misugu Okamoto was technically the first “woman” to successfully perform a backside 540 when she was just 12 years old. 

At the age of eight, Okamoto took up skating and decided that it would be her full-time agenda. She made the tough decision to leave her hometown, and went to stay with her coach’s family so that she could advance more quickly.

With dedication and hard work, Okamoto — with assistance from her coach — got the opportunity to perform at the Olympics. At just 13 years of age, Okamoto competed in and won the World Skate World Park Championship in 2019.

Did You Know?

To perfect her skills, Okamoto practices at a skate park 35 kilometers away from her home in Takahama. Here, her coach guides her and helps her improve upon several stunts that are necessary for being a top contender in competitions.

4. Momiji Nishiya (August 30, 2007 – Present) 

photo source: Indianexpress.com

Momiji Nishiya made history when she became the second-youngest gold medalist in Olympics history. Nishiya won gold in the 2020 Summer Olympics women’s Street competition.

Nishiya’s pre-Olympics performance was also impressive. At only 11 years old, she won silver at the X-Games in 2019, and another silver medal at the World Championships in Rome in 2021.

You can find her on Instagram, where she showcases her practice and competition videos.

Did You Know?

Nishiya is Japan’s youngest Olympic gold medalist and the third youngest gold medalist in Olympic history at 13 years and 330 days.

3. Rayssa Leal (January 4, 2008 – Present) 

photo source: Olympics.com

Rayssa Leal’s name was first heard in the skating arena when she was only seven years old. Her skating videos went viral, and she ended up earning the nickname a Fadinha do Skate, which translates to “little skate boarding fairy.”

In 2019, Leal participated in the Street League Skateboarding Championship and secured third place. In 2021, she went on to compete in the Summer Olympic Games, where she came in second at only the age of 13. 

Following her demonstration of sportsmanship toward her competitors in Tokyo, Leal became the first Olympic athlete to receive the Visa Award, which celebrates uplifting moments from the Olympic and Paralympic games that embody friendship, inclusion, and courage (to name a few).

Did You Know?

When Leal participated in the 2021 Summer Olympics, she was 13 years old and 4’10” tall, becoming the youngest Olympian ever to represent Brazil.

2. Sky Brown (July 7, 2008 – Present) 

photo source: Assembly.malala.org

Sky Brown is a professional skateboarder who represents the United Kingdom. Brown is the country’s youngest skateboarder and sportsperson to compete in the Olympic Games. At the age of 13, she also won a bronze medal in the Olympics in Tokyo.

At the X Games 19, Sky Brown became the first female skateboarder to land a 720 and 540. Without an instructor, the British-Japanese Olympian learns skills from YouTube videos. She’s also a popular vlogger, and collaborates with her skateboarder brother, Ocean.

Did You Know?

Sky has a younger brother named Ocean Brown. Ocean, like Sky, is a professional skateboarder. He and his sister are also quite skilled at surfing.

1. Kokona Hiraki (August 26, 2008 – Present) 

photo source: edition.cnn.com

Kokona Hiraki is currently the youngest professional female skateboarder at the age of 13. 

Hiraki, a Japanese athlete, earned a silver medal in the Women’s Park category at the Olympics when she was 12 years old. This made her the youngest Olympian medalist in the history of Japan.

At the age of 13, Hiraki — who had already made a name for herself before the Games — also took home the title of the youngest Olympian medalist in all countries across the globe for the past 85 years.

The young skateboarding star has always been passionate about the sport. Hiraki began skateboarding at the early age of 5 after she was inspired by her mother’s love for skating. Her mom encouraged young Hiraki to pursue a career as a professional skateboarder.

Did You Know?

In 2019, Kokona Hiraki won a silver medal at the X Games in Boise, Idaho.