Olympic gold medallist reveals why she flew home ECONOMY after Paris Games despite making history for her country

Australia’s youngest over Olympic gold medallist would not be blamed for travelling in premium comfort following her heroics in Paris.

But Arisa Trew has explained why she turned down the chance to fly home in business class on Wednesday.

Trew, 14, made history in France by shattering Sandra Morgan’s record that had previously stood for 68 years when she won gold in the skateboarding to become the youngest Aussie to win gold at a Games.

Swimming legend Morgan was 14 years and six months old when she won gold at the 1956 Melbourne Games, while Trew is currently aged 14 years and three months.

Trew has been lauded for her efforts and recently said that her parents promised her a pet duck if she won gold in Paris. 

And speaking to Nova 100’s Jase & Lauren after getting off the plane in Australia, Trew revealed that she did not take up the offer of flying business class – a reward given to all of the nation’s gold medallists – for a very wholesome reason.

‘I mean, I could have been sitting in business with all the other medallists, but instead I chose to sit in economy with my two best friends, Chloe [Covell] and Ruby [Trew],’ she said. 

Lauren replied: ‘: You’re the cutest thing ever. We couldn’t love you anymore. So Arisa, does that mean you got to give someone your gold medal business class seat?’

The Australian became the youngest person from her country to win a gold medal

Trew said: ‘I’m pretty sure somebody else got it because me and my friends were walking around the plane, and we went up there, and it was all full. So I definitely think somebody like else was sitting there but I don’t mind.’

An exciting future lies ahead of Trew, with the youngster surely in line for lucrative sponsorship deals off the back of her triumph at the Olympics. 

But the 14-year-old says there is only one place she wants to be after returning to Australia. 

‘I just love going to school,’ she said. ‘Because it’s the skate park where I go to school. So I get to see all my friends that skate, that I skate with every day and train with, my coaches, the teachers. Like, it’s just the best thing in the world.’

Trew said a pet duck would suit her busy lifestyle as she competes overseas.

‘My parents wouldn’t let me get a dog or a cat because we are travelling so much right now,’ she said.

‘I feel like a duck might be a little bit easier.’

The young skateboarder said she will keep her new pet duck in little pool in her backyard.

But she snubbed the chance to fly business class, which is a reward for winning gold

Trew is Australia’s first medallist in women’s skateboarding and for the first time, Japan didn’t win a gold medal in a women’s skateboarding event after Trew pulled out all the stops.

Legendary skateboarder Tony Hawke was left impressed by the young Aussie’s performance.

‘She absolutely deserved it, I think that she’s leading the way of what’s possible in skateboarding and women’s skateboarding,’ he said following her win.