Tony Hawk

Tony Hawk is the most culturally impactful action athlete in the history of the sport — a statement that does not require qualification. On June 27, 1999, he became the first person to land a 900 (two and a half aerial rotations) in competition at the X Games Best Trick event, at age 31, on his 12th attempt, on a day he had officially been eliminated. The moment was broadcast live and became one of the most watched clips in early internet history. His self-titled video game franchise — Tony Hawk's Pro Skater — sold over 30 million copies, introduced a generation to skateboarding, and popularised the sport globally more effectively than any Olympics appearance. Hawk founded the Tony Hawk Foundation (now The Skatepark Project), which has funded over 1,000 free public skateparks across the United States in low-income communities. In 2026, approaching 60, he still skates and still lands the 900 on the right day. His legacy is not what he does now but what he started — and that conversation has no end date.