Skateboarding is synonymous with Tony Hawk. The legend has proven time and again that he is the GOAT. From becoming one of the pioneers of skateboarding to having a licensed video game on him, Tony Hawk is a superstar. While he has had a good taste of success in his life, it also came with a side of disappointments.

Although Tony Hawk is now a veteran athlete who teaches to skate, he was once the victim of bullying. In 2021, he revealed how his negative childhood experience changed his personality. While he grew up being extremely conscious about it, he evolved into a better person.

Tony Hawk shares his experience of bullying

While it might seem hard to believe, legendary skater Tony Hawk was bullied for exactly what he is an expert on – skating. The icon has spoken about how bullies would pick on him because he was “skinny, nerdy and rode a skateboard”. Nevertheless, the icon moved on from that chapter of his life. However, he once talked about how it affected him and his personality later on in life.

Hawk spoke about how his confidence levels changed over time. Initially, he used to think that people considered him awkward. This also stemmed from his distant behavior toward people. He confessed that people thought he was arrogant because he wouldn’t acknowledge or talk to them properly. He justified it by saying, “I used to come off as arrogant because I didn’t feel comfortable in my own skin”.

Read More: “My Ankles Can’t Take It”: Hurting Bones Made Tony Hawk Realize He Wasn’t Doing Anything ‘Revolutionary’ in 2021

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Nevertheless, the icon slowly changed. He learned to interact and grew comfortable in social situations. He now meets a lot of people, including kids, and teaches them to skate. The icon has often condemned bullying and encouraged kind behavior. He now finds life to be better and more fun. While he may have suffered in his childhood, Hawk did not let the negative experiences get to him. This is why the skateboarding superstar will always be a champion at winning both medals and hearts.

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