At just eight years old, Zarah Ann Gladys is already making her mark on international skateboarding.
India’s highest-ranked female skateboarder in the park discipline joined The Mettleset Podcast during the World Skateboarding Tour 2024 at Arada in Dubai. At the event, Zarah was the youngest competitor looking to improve her Olympic World Skate Ranking ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
For the episode, The Mettleset caught up with Zarah alongside her mother, Annie, and her younger sister, Karen. Their conversation offers a glimpse into the young skateboarder’s love for the sport, the family supporting her journey and the simple philosophy guiding her training.
Zarah Ann Gladys Finds Joy in Skateboarding
Despite competing internationally at such a young age, Zarah’s approach to skateboarding remains refreshingly simple: have fun.
Her motivation comes from a genuine enjoyment of being on a skateboard rather than focusing solely on rankings and results. That mindset has helped her continue developing while navigating competition at an international level.
During the podcast, Zarah shares what keeps her excited about training and competing. Her perspective also highlights something that can sometimes disappear as sport becomes more competitive: the importance of enjoying the process.
Family Support Behind Zarah Ann Gladys
Behind Zarah’s growing skateboarding career is a strong support system.
Her mother, Annie, speaks about helping Zarah pursue the sport while allowing her passion to develop naturally. Meanwhile, her younger sister Karen is also part of the family environment surrounding Zarah’s journey.
That support extends beyond home. Friends and school have also played a role in giving the young athlete space to train, compete and continue experiencing childhood alongside sport.
Rather than putting Olympic ambitions at the centre of everything she does, those around Zarah are helping her build her talent around something more immediate: her love of skateboarding.
An Olympic Dream Begins With Having Fun
The World Skateboarding Tour in Dubai placed Zarah alongside athletes pursuing valuable ranking points on the road to Paris 2024.
For an eight-year-old athlete, however, the experience represented much more than rankings.
Competing on the international stage gave Zarah another opportunity to skate, learn and experience the sport at its highest level. At the same time, it offered a glimpse of what could lie ahead as she continues to develop.
Her journey may eventually lead towards the Olympic Games. For now, though, Zarah’s philosophy remains uncomplicated.
Train. Skate. Compete. And, above all, have fun.
Listen to the full episode of The Mettleset Podcast to meet Zarah Ann Gladys and hear more from her mother Annie and younger sister Karen about the family behind one of India’s emerging young skateboarding talents.
🎧 Listen to the episode now
📸 Find Zarah on Instagram: @zarah_skater
- Check out AlJada Skatepark: @aljadaskatepark
- Read more about Zarah on Olympics.com
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