Grace skates into sporting history

THE Tasmanian Institute of Sport had better get used to front side feeble grinds, ollies and kickflips as skateboarding is now part of the program.

Taroona High Grade 9 student Grace Cochrane has become the first skateboarder to gain a TIS scholarship in the 33-year history of the institute.

In just 3½ years since joining “She Shreds” — an all female skateboarding group based at the Elizabeth College skate park — Cochrane, 15, has risen to No. 6 in Australia and recently finished 22nd at the world championships in China in her park and bowl discipline.

“I am proud, and I hope this can inspire other skaters, especially girls, but all skaters to follow their dreams because you never know where you will end up,” Cochrane said.

“This scholarship will help me a lot and you never now, in years to come I could have other skate mates joining me hopefully.”

Skateboarding will be an Olympic sport from 2020 in Tokyo and representing her country at the games is definitely her long-term goal.

She said she loved the freedom and creativity of the “challenging but fun sport”.

Next year, via $2.61 million Tasmanian Government funding, the TIS will provide high-performance scholarships to 57 athletes across 11 sports, plus 15 talent development scholarships across four sports — a total of 72 athletes on scholarship.