Skateboarder Covell rebounds after Paris disappointment
Tenacious teen Chloe Covell has finally cracked her first World Skateboarding Tour victory, with the young Australian victorious in Rome.
Competing internationally for the past three years, Covell's long-awaited win comes on the back of being included as a playable character in the latest remake of the Tony Hawk Pro Skater video game.
The daughter of former NRL player Luke Covell, she was hand-picked by the legendary Hawk for the iconic game.
Covell captured the Australian public's attention at the Paris Olympics last year when she was bidding to become the country's youngest ever gold medallist.
Competing in the final of the street discipline, the then 14-year-old was in tears midway through the medal round when she was unable to land any of her five tricks and finished last of the eight finalists.
But in Rome Covell, who is from Tweed Heads in northern NSW, was all smiles after laying down a flawless run in the final.
She entered the deciding run as the hot favourite after topping the quarters and semi-finals, with Brazil's Olympic champion Rayssa Leal missing out.
Covell produced her best score, 89.79, in her final run to hold a seven point lead going into the trick section.
Instead of playing it safe after two falls and requiring just a 71.22 for victory, Covell went large and nailed a superb frontside 50-50 kickflip to win by more than 20 points from Japan's Funa Nakayama and Ibuki Matsomoto.
Sora Shirai won the men's event.
Congratulations to team rider Chloe Covell for winning @worldskatesb in Rome! 🥇 pic.twitter.com/KZrNhOQXBy
— Bones Bearings (@Bonesbearings) June 16, 2025
A beaming Covell was almost speechless after the performance.
"I'm so excited like my words can't even come out of my mouth right now, I'm just super stoked," Covell said.
"I was the most nervous I've ever been because I know I can do this trick and I was just a little bit sketchy for the first two, so yeah, I just took some breaths and did what I had to do.
"Having like a first win at a competition, like a competition I haven't won before is just amazing."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
14 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Panthers make mockery of calls to suspend 'unfair' NRL comp as Cleary's heir shines
Ivan Cleary was left stunned and proud of his Penrith Panthers outfit after defeating the Warriors, despite missing his State of Origin stars, as fans urge the NRL to stop the competition during the rep schedule. There have been growing calls for the NRL to come up with a solution during the Origin period with a number of teams ravaged by injuries and selection issues. In the first bye round, the Panthers were decimated with five representatives ruled out. The Newcastle Knights hammered Penrith in their clash, which led to frustration over the quality and depth of teams forced to play during the Origin period. Coach Cleary was also left fuming prior to the clash against the Warriors knowing Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo, Dylan Edwards, Brian To'o and Liam Martin would not fly from Perth to New Zealand and play against the Warriors. The coach was obviously fearing a similar result to the one against the Knights a few weeks ago considering he was fielding a similar said. Speaking last weekend, Cleary labelled the situation "unfair". He said: "The Origin players won't be playing because they can't. I don't think it's fair that we can't play... we should be able to make that decision. Through flights, we just can't get them there." The Warriors were flying-high and many predicted the home side to put another cricket score on the Panthers missing all their representatives. However, the Panthers showed pride in the jersey and their performance having defeated the Warriors 28-18. "Obviously the context is important, but just the way the boys went about it. Every time there wasn't something great, they got on with it and made up for it," Cleary said when asked about the win missing his Origin stars. "Just very happy for the boys and hopefully something we can build on. "I should mention the leadership, Scott you lose the calibre of the guys we had you need that leadership to step up. And it just helps the younger guys. Our leaders tonight were outstanding." When asked about the loss to the Knights a few weeks back, Cleary admitted it was on their mind. "I definitely think that was probably the starting point - they just wanted to prove to themselves and everyone that we're certainly better than what we showed that night," he added. "We've tried to build a culture here where it doesn't matter who's playing and you deliver a certain standard and whether you win or not." Fans were stunned at the Panthers win after so much was made of their missing stars. The depth of the Panthers made a mockery of the competition, but it was also a worrying loss for the Warriors who have been carrying so much momentum in recent weeks. Brave win by the Panthers tonight without their Origin stars. The Warriors had some big moments but they were matched by even bigger plays by the Panthers. There's a further blow for the Wahs with DWZ (ankle), Niukore (HIA) failing to finish while Metcalf (quad) limped off. — The League Scene (@LeagueScenePod) June 21, 2025 Origin depleted Panthers on the road against a near full strength(?) Wahs team in front of a packed out home may still fall short at the end of Round 27 but this will be no doubt one of the best, if not the best win of the season. #NRLWarriorsPanthers #pantherpride — Parra Panthers (@letsgopenrith) June 21, 2025 No origin players.. Okaaayyy Panthers 👏🏽 I just know they're gonna make the 8 😑😂 — . (@__seraphinatee) June 21, 2025 The Warriors seemed to go in overly confident tonight being at home and Panthers having their origin stars out— but man the panthers should be proud of themselves. 👏🏻 Their senior players really stepped up aswell. — Chloe Jones (@FinalGirlChloe) June 21, 2025 Sorensen was player-of-the-match with two tries for his side. But it was also the performance of young recruit Blaize Talagi that had fans excited. Without the influence of Nathan Cleary in the halves, Blaize Talagi enjoyed one of his best games in the jersey. The 20-year-old didn't start the beginning of the season with coach Cleary looking at Jack Cole to partner his son Nathan. Talagi was expected to slot right in after his move from the Parramatta Eels, but bided his time. But the Panthers five-eighth was instrumental for his side with his chief playmaker missing. Talagi scored a stunning solo try, but also assisted another when he took advantage of Dallin Watene-Zelezniak limping in the defensive line. And fans are feeling the Panthers team are starting to hum in time to make a late run to finals footy. Although Cleary made no excuse and claimed the team will finish where they deserve. "We'll finish where we deserve ... we're playing a bit of our brand of footy so at least we give ourselves a chance." Blaize Talagi is starting to show why Penrith brought him to the club. He's developing slowly but nicely. Great try here plus a nice pass to put Sorensen through for one of his tries as well.#PantherPride — Peter Lang (@PeterVLang) June 21, 2025 Warriors coach Andrew Webster was left shellshocked at his team's performance having entered the clash as heavy favourites. "I don't look at the personnel of the opposition, I look at the way we play, our style," Webster said. "If we played our best game tonight, and they played their best game, and we got beaten by that scoreline, then I'd be upset but we didn't play well. I think we beat ourselves tonight, and they were very good, the Panthers, but we just didn't get our game on at all."
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Steve Borthwick backs George's leadership qualities for co-captaincy role
By Phil Campbell at Pennyhill Park Steve Borthwick has backed Jamie George's leadership qualities after restoring him to England captaincy duties alongside George Ford. The England head coach replaced George as skipper in January of this year in favour of Maro Itoje, a decision the hooker admitted came out of the blue. Advertisement However, with Itoje away on Lions duty where he will captain the touring side in Australia, Borthwick has gone back to the tried-and-tested with George set to lead the team for the game against a French XV on Saturday, working as a co-captain with Ford. Borthwick explained that the two dovetail nicely in their leadership styles and having both in the joint position was 'the right way to go'. 'He's (George) really clear from a tactical point of view. He's got a brilliant voice. He has a fantastic feel and manner with people,' said Borthwick. 'Both of them are phenomenal players and both are brilliant, experienced leaders, both at club and international level. Advertisement 'Whether they've been captains or vice-captains or not, they are leaders and they are role models for the rest of the players. 'I decided that was the right way to go, to have two great figureheads for this team. 'This week training, they complement each other superbly well, as you'll know from their different styles and different positions they play. 'That then gives us a figurehead in the forwards, a figurehead in the backs, leading the team. 'I've been really pleased with how it's gone.' Ford and George come into the tour as two of the most experienced members of the squad, with a combined 200 England caps between them, having both missed out on selection for the Lions in May. Advertisement George, whilst not making the 38-man squad, has clearly remained in Farrell Snr's thinking and was called up to train with the Lions out in Portugal last week due to the absence of Dan Sheehan and Ronan Kelleher, both of whom were on Leinster duty in the URC Final. Now back with England, the hooker reflected with pride on his third different Lions camp, despite the initial disappointment of missing out. 'I loved it,' he said. 'Me and George [Ford] are in the same boat. I was very disappointed not to be on the Tour in the first place, but to be given any opportunity to go in and show what you're about a little bit… It was a great opportunity for me to go out there. They're setting themselves up very nicely for a successful tour.' Advertisement And with England set to fly out to Argentina, the opponents of the Lions on Friday evening in Dublin, George revealed he was keenly observing everything that was going on, partly to help when he was back with his national side. He added: 'There's a little bit more in it because they're playing Argentina tomorrow night and that's where our tour is going to be. As we were analysing in the Lions meetings, I was making sure I was making extra notes just to bring back about what I've seen. I think it's important.' There is scope for the England squad to change should the Lions come calling, with Jack van Poortvliet currently away as scrum-half cover for the side with Jamison Gibson-Park not fully fit. Borthwick remained tight-lipped about any potential return to the international fold for Owen Farrell, however, after he re-signed for Saracens this week following one season at Racing 92 in France, making him eligible for international duty once more. Advertisement 'I think Owen has been very clear,' said Borthwick. 'He's happy to be home and he hasn't made any discussion around his future other than just wanting to get his family settled back in Hertfordshire. 'My focus is on these guys here.' On the timescale regarding Van Poortvliet's return, Borthwick said he is due to be back next week but admitted that date could be subject to change and that the Leicester scrum-half would be fully supported if that were to be the case. 'Jack might well be at the game on Saturday afternoon, but if that changes from a Lions perspective, then we fully support Jack,' he added. Advertisement 'We've also spoken very publicly that we want as many England players in that Lions squad as possible. 'There might be situations were other England players join the squad in which case we'll be delighted for our players to do that.'
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
For 50 years, Sydney Opera House has had one man on speed dial
Since the Sydney Opera House opened over 50 years ago, countless musical stars, world leaders and awestruck patrons have visited its iconic halls. The outside forecourt has been blanketed by thousands of bare bodies in the name of art and, inside, an only slightly less naked Arnold Schwarzenegger even won a body-building title. There have been renovations and controversies, protests staged and history made. And the constant, through it all, is Terry Harper. He's been tuning the building's pianos for half a century, working behind the scenes to make sure the uber-technical instruments are ready for the world's best musicians. It's a family legacy started by his father when the Opera House first opened in 1973 - and one that ended this week, with Terry's retirement. The 69-year-old still remembers the first time he stepped into the half-finished Opera House, as a wide-eyed child. "The sails were up, but it was all very bare," he tells the BBC, gesturing to the edges of the grand Concert Hall. "There was nothing inside… You could see out to the harbour on both sides." At the time, he had no inkling he'd spend most of his life inside the iconic venue. His dad, on the other hand, no doubt had grand plans, Terry says. By then, Liverpool emigrant Ron Harper was renowned on the Sydney music scene as both a piano tuner and a performer. "He would take me to these nightclubs as a [kid] in my little school uniform. And I would be seeing all of these world-class acts," Terry recalls. He rattles off a list including Welsh songstress Dame Shirley Bassey, stage icon Liza Minelli, and British TV and music darling Cilla Black – whom they even drove home after her performance one night. "It was an interesting childhood," Terry surmises, with a chuckle. But it's one which instilled in him a love of music – even if he wasn't particularly interested in making it himself. Somewhat ironically, Terry admits he spent about a year learning piano before giving it up, dabbling with the drums and his school choir instead. It was in 1973, shortly after the Opera House was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II, that his father Ron got his fateful call-up. "One day, the Sydney Symphony was rehearsing downstairs, and the piano hadn't been tuned particularly well by whoever had been in in the morning," Terry says. "One of the people working here knew my dad." Three years later, a 19-year-old Terry would join Ron under the sails, after completing a one-year piano tuning course when he left school. He started on rehearsal pianos in the backroom, while building up his skills and confidence, before finally taking over when his dad retired a decade later. These days, he can walk into a room and immediately know if the piano is out of tune. "I always had a very good sense of pitch," he says, "[but] it's difficult to master." And it's all done by ear. Tinkling on the piano in front of him, he explains this one has 243 strings. For most of the keys, three separate steel wires combine to make the note. "Once they start to deviate from the same frequency, they cause these things which we call beats, and that's what we're listening for when we're tuning." "Can you hear this?" he asks, enthusiastically. Alas, I – a music pleb - cannot. "It's not like tuning a guitar," he says, offering me some solace. The process can take up to 90 minutes, and each of the 30 pianos in the building need to be tuned basically every time they're used. "There's so many strings in there that can wander out of tune, especially when you're playing big piano concertos," Terry explains. "I refer to these as being F1 racing cars… They're really gunning them." It can be a demanding and relentless job. "It doesn't stop. And it's night times, it's early mornings, it's two and three times a day," Terry says. But the perks – which include brushing shoulders with some of the globe's most-decorated musicians and easy access to the most sought-after tickets in town - aren't to be scoffed at, he hastens to add. Terry has also tuned pianos in many other notable locations - from the Royal Albert Hall and Abbey Road Studios to the BBC broadcast offices. But none occupy a spot in his heart like the Opera House. "For me, it's a very happy place. It's pretty much been my life." Earlier this year, after five decades, Terry decided it was time to hang up the tools. "I got quite cozy during Covid, not having to work," he quips. His son couldn't be tempted to take up the family business – "he's into computer stuff, like all good young men are" – and so Friday also marked the end of the Harper legacy inside the Sydney Opera House. The venue has opened a tender for a new contractor to tune their pianos – and Terry says he's heard a rumour they could be replacing him with several tuners. "I think somebody owes me some money… I've been doing the work of six people," he teases. Jokes aside, he admits that as his departure has crept closer, a wave of emotions came with it. "Piano tuners, we're fairly solitary," he says. "We like to be in a room by ourselves with quiet, because you have to focus and listen to what you're doing… [but] I've always had the camaraderie of all the people that work here." "I'm going to miss the place."
