Cordano Russell, a London, Ontario-born skateboarder, has rapidly ascended from relative obscurity to become Canada’s top-ranked street skater. This meteoric rise culminates on Saturday as Russell competes in the Olympic Games in Paris, marking a significant milestone in his career.
Standing at 6’3″ and weighing 230 pounds, Russell’s imposing figure and athletic prowess make him a standout in the skateboarding world. Initially on track for a Division 1 Football Scholarship with prospects of a professional career as an elite defensive player, Russell chose to follow his passion for skateboarding—a sport that, while less conventional, offers its own physical challenges.
Unlike many of his peers who wear extensive padding, Russell prefers to skate in just shorts and a headband, embracing the sport’s raw physicality. “It’s one thing that you learn quickly,” says the 19-year-old. “You know that you’re going to fall way more than you want to land a trick in skateboarding. I was never afraid to get down and dirty. I was always the young kid who liked to jump off the marble table or off the couch and just laugh it off.”
Russell’s skateboarding journey began in St. Louis, Missouri, where his family moved from London while his mother attended Fanshawe College. His passion for skateboarding ignited when he discovered a skateboard in an unexpected place. “I found a skateboard inside of a bush,” he recalls. “I was a little kid doing some bush diving and I pulled out a skateboard. In St. Louis about 16 years ago, it wasn’t so popular. My dad’s only seen two skateboards in his life. One from a childhood friend, and then the other one that I brought out of a bush.”
At eight years old, Russell’s ambition led his family to relocate to Carlsbad, California, a renowned hub for world-class skateboarders. This move proved pivotal, allowing him to hone his skills and progress rapidly in the sport. Eleven years later, Russell finds himself in Paris, ready to compete on the world stage.
Despite his American upbringing, Russell chose to represent Canada, his mother’s homeland, at the Olympics. “I thought if I ever have an opportunity to go to the Olympics, I want to represent the motherland [Canada], which is literally my mother’s land,” he explains. “The barriers to entry for Canada compared to the U.S. team were a lot more applicable to my situation.”
Olympic Street Skating, the discipline in which Russell will compete, involves navigating urban-inspired obstacles like rails, stairs, and ledges. It differs from Park Skating, which is performed in a bowl. “We’re in the LA Concorde area and the venue is beautiful,” he says. “It’s going to be an amazing event and we’re going to show up and show out. It’s about 6,000 seats, and the more cheers, the more hype, the better, because that pushes us to do what we were all made to do, just to show off and to do tricks that no one has ever seen before.”
Russell aims for the podium, leveraging his unique combination of size and power to execute moves that few others can replicate. “I want people to see my authentic skateboarding, and I want people to see and feel the tricks I do,” he says with determination.
Russell’s journey from finding a skateboard in a bush to competing at the Olympics is a testament to his dedication, talent, and unyielding spirit. As he prepares to showcase his skills in Paris, he carries the hopes and pride of both Canada and his personal journey, inspiring a new generation of skateboarders along the way.
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