A world-ranked skateboarder representing the United States at this year’s Summer Olympics honed her craft as a child in Ocean City.
When the Paris Games begin this week, Maryland will be well represented by a number of athletes, including Ocean City native Ruby Lilley, 17, who will be competing in the women’s park skateboarding event for Team USA. While her passion for the sport precipitated her move to California in 2018, she said this week she doesn’t forget the place where it all began.
“From growing up at a small skate park on the East Coast, to moving to California to compete in these big contests, to going to the Olympics, I would have to say that working hard seriously pays off more than anything,” she said, “and doing what you truly love and following your heart will get you there.”
Lilley said her love of skateboarding began at the Ocean Bowl Skate Park, where she spent hours teaching herself the sport. She said her background in ballet and competitive ballroom dancing, and eagerness to follow in her brothers’ footsteps, helped pave the way for what would become her passion.
“I always looked up to my brothers,” she said. “When my brothers started doing ballroom dancing, I always just wanted to do what they did, so I started ballroom dancing. Then I did ballet, and I competed competitively in both of them. Then when they started skateboarding, it was a no-brainer. I was going to try it.”
I used to know this young lady’s family. Good people and all the children were very talented. Good luck little Ruby.