Youngest versus oldest at X Games
The age gap
There may be a growing number of teen phenoms showing up on podiums at X Games, but the older generation is still holding strong. Here's a glimpse at the youngest and oldest athletes who will be competing at X Games Austin, from 58-year-old race car drivers to 14-year-old skateboarders and more.
There may be a growing number of teen phenoms showing up on podiums at X Games, but the older generation is still holding strong. Here's a glimpse at the youngest and oldest athletes who will be competing at X Games Austin, from 58-year-old race car drivers to 14-year-old skateboarders and more.
Rusty Wallace, 58
Rusty Wallace retired from NASCAR in 2005, but the 58-year-old ESPN broadcaster will come out of retirement to compete in Off-Road Truck Racing at X Games Austin 2015. He will be the oldest competitor at X Games Austin 2015. "I honestly miss driving a car a little bit," Wallace told The Associated Press. "ESPN brought up this possibility, and I thought, 'Why not? Let's go knock the cobwebs off and try this.'"
Rusty Wallace retired from NASCAR in 2005, but the 58-year-old ESPN broadcaster will come out of retirement to compete in Off-Road Truck Racing at X Games Austin 2015. He will be the oldest competitor at X Games Austin 2015. "I honestly miss driving a car a little bit," Wallace told The Associated Press. "ESPN brought up this possibility, and I thought, 'Why not? Let's go knock the cobwebs off and try this.'"
Alana Smith, 14
Alana Smith, age 14, will be the youngest athlete competing at X Games Austin 2015. She has already made X Games history -- in 2013, Smith, then age 12, became the youngest X Games medalist ever when she won silver in women's Skateboard Park. She'll be competing in women's Skateboard Street in June. "I want to show younger girls that it is possible if you love something to work your way up toward the top," Smith says.
Alana Smith, age 14, will be the youngest athlete competing at X Games Austin 2015. She has already made X Games history -- in 2013, Smith, then age 12, became the youngest X Games medalist ever when she won silver in women's Skateboard Park. She'll be competing in women's Skateboard Street in June. "I want to show younger girls that it is possible if you love something to work your way up toward the top," Smith says.
Boris Said, 52
The last time NASCAR driver Boris Said, age 52, competed at X Games was in 2007 in Los Angeles in Rally Car Racing. A lot has changed since then. Said will return to compete in Off-Road Truck Racing, a discipline that debuted last year in Austin.
The last time NASCAR driver Boris Said, age 52, competed at X Games was in 2007 in Los Angeles in Rally Car Racing. A lot has changed since then. Said will return to compete in Off-Road Truck Racing, a discipline that debuted last year in Austin.
Trey Wood, 14
Trey Wood first competed at X Games in Skateboard Big Air in 2012, when he was just 11 years old, becoming the third-youngest competitor in XG history. He got fifth place last year in Austin, and now, at the wise age of 14, he'll be joining a teen fleet of competitors in Skateboard Big Air.
Trey Wood first competed at X Games in Skateboard Big Air in 2012, when he was just 11 years old, becoming the third-youngest competitor in XG history. He got fifth place last year in Austin, and now, at the wise age of 14, he'll be joining a teen fleet of competitors in Skateboard Big Air.
Dennis McCoy, 48
At X Games Austin 2015, Dennis McCoy will make his 22nd X Games appearance, competing in BMX Vert. He was there when the Extreme Games first debuted in Rhode Island in 1995. Now 48, he'll be the oldest athlete in Austin competing without a roll cage. Last year in Austin, McCoy got to his first podium in more than 15 years. "I don't see any reason to stop," McCoy says. "Certainly, it would be foolish of me to not want to compete as a 50-year-old."
At X Games Austin 2015, Dennis McCoy will make his 22nd X Games appearance, competing in BMX Vert. He was there when the Extreme Games first debuted in Rhode Island in 1995. Now 48, he'll be the oldest athlete in Austin competing without a roll cage. Last year in Austin, McCoy got to his first podium in more than 15 years. "I don't see any reason to stop," McCoy says. "Certainly, it would be foolish of me to not want to compete as a 50-year-old."
Tom Schaar, 15
Fifteen-year-old Tom Schaar owns an X Games medal of every color: bronze and silver from 2013, and his first gold in Skateboard Big Air last year in Austin. This year, he'll be competing in Skateboard Big Air and in the debut of Big Air Doubles. In 2012, he landed the first 1080 in skateboarding when he was just 12 years old.
Fifteen-year-old Tom Schaar owns an X Games medal of every color: bronze and silver from 2013, and his first gold in Skateboard Big Air last year in Austin. This year, he'll be competing in Skateboard Big Air and in the debut of Big Air Doubles. In 2012, he landed the first 1080 in skateboarding when he was just 12 years old.
Robby Gordon, 46
Robby Gordon got bronze last year at X Games Austin, beaten by two teenagers. Now 46, Gordon, who races everything from NASCAR to off-road and is a three-time Baja 1000 winner, will return to compete in Off-Road Truck Racing.
Robby Gordon got bronze last year at X Games Austin, beaten by two teenagers. Now 46, Gordon, who races everything from NASCAR to off-road and is a three-time Baja 1000 winner, will return to compete in Off-Road Truck Racing.
Gavin Harlien, 15
Gavin Harlien made his X Games debut last year at age 14, becoming the youngest person ever to compete at X Games in a motorized sport and finishing in ninth place. Now 15 and still not old enough for a regular road license (he got his permit in February), he'll be back to compete in Off-Road Truck Racing.
Gavin Harlien made his X Games debut last year at age 14, becoming the youngest person ever to compete at X Games in a motorized sport and finishing in ninth place. Now 15 and still not old enough for a regular road license (he got his permit in February), he'll be back to compete in Off-Road Truck Racing.
Sverre Isachsen, 44
Norway's Sverre Isachsen, 44, will compete in Rally Car Racing at X Games Austin. The three-time champion in the European Rallycross Championship won a bronze medal in RallyCross at X Games Los Angeles in 2013.
Norway's Sverre Isachsen, 44, will compete in Rally Car Racing at X Games Austin. The three-time champion in the European Rallycross Championship won a bronze medal in RallyCross at X Games Los Angeles in 2013.
Pamela Rose, 15
Pamela Rosa first competed at X Games in her native Brazil, when X Games came to Foz do Iguau in 2013. She was only 13 at the time. Last year, she won her first X Games medal, a silver, in women's Skateboard Street in Austin. She'll return to Texas in June, now age 15 and a podium favorite in women's Skateboard Street.
Pamela Rosa first competed at X Games in her native Brazil, when X Games came to Foz do Iguau in 2013. She was only 13 at the time. Last year, she won her first X Games medal, a silver, in women's Skateboard Street in Austin. She'll return to Texas in June, now age 15 and a podium favorite in women's Skateboard Street.
Jamie Bestwick, 43
Last year at X Games Austin, Jamie Bestwick earned a record ninth consecutive gold medal in BMX Vert. Bestwick, now 43, won his first XG medal in 1996, and he owns 13 career X Games golds. "Part of me looks forward to passing the torch and would like to see one of the younger guys step up and take it," Bestwick says. "But another part of me still really enjoys winning! I'm going to keep riding my best for as long as I can."
Last year at X Games Austin, Jamie Bestwick earned a record ninth consecutive gold medal in BMX Vert. Bestwick, now 43, won his first XG medal in 1996, and he owns 13 career X Games golds. "Part of me looks forward to passing the torch and would like to see one of the younger guys step up and take it," Bestwick says. "But another part of me still really enjoys winning! I'm going to keep riding my best for as long as I can."
Scotty Steele, 17
Scotty Steele is one of a handful of promising teens behind the wheel in X Games Off-Road Truck Racing. He had his X Games debut last year in Austin and placed fifth. He then went on to take fourth overall on the Stadium Super Trucks series.
Scotty Steele is one of a handful of promising teens behind the wheel in X Games Off-Road Truck Racing. He had his X Games debut last year in Austin and placed fifth. He then went on to take fourth overall on the Stadium Super Trucks series.
Pat Moro, 43
Pat Moro has competed in Rally Car Racing at X Games four times (2007, 2008, 2010 and 2011). Last year he competed at X Games Austin in RallyCross. The two-time Rally America Super Production champion will return to Austin this year, at age 43, for Rally Car Racing.
Pat Moro has competed in Rally Car Racing at X Games four times (2007, 2008, 2010 and 2011). Last year he competed at X Games Austin in RallyCross. The two-time Rally America Super Production champion will return to Austin this year, at age 43, for Rally Car Racing.
Mike Brown, 43
Mike Brown, age 43, may be one of the oldest competitors in men's Enduro X, but he's also one of the fastest. He won XG gold in the discipline in 2013 in Barcelona and in 2012 in Los Angeles. This year in Austin will mark his eighth X Games appearance.
Mike Brown, age 43, may be one of the oldest competitors in men's Enduro X, but he's also one of the fastest. He won XG gold in the discipline in 2013 in Barcelona and in 2012 in Los Angeles. This year in Austin will mark his eighth X Games appearance.