SkaterM. Santiago grew up in Puerto Rico and Massachusetts only wanting to skate and do what he loved.
However, in 2020, Santiago and his fellow professional skateboarders may find themselves on the biggest stage in the world, as skateboarding will make its Olympic debut in Tokyo.
What You Want to Know?
M. Santiago Tokyo Olympics Games 2020
To learn more about his journey to Tokyo 2020 and the inspiration he draws from Monica Puig and Carlos Arroyo.
If the man on the other end of the video call has a big grin, a missing tooth, blue hair, and an infectiously upbeat demeanour.
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Then it can only be one of two people: Known as Manny Santiago, he is a skateboarding superstar.
Skating’s crown jewel is getting ready to represent Puerto Rico at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where she has a shot at becoming only the second Boricua to win gold after Monica Puig did it in tennis at Rio 2016.
M. Santiago, at the ripe old age of 35, has qualified to compete in the Olympic debut of skateboarding in Tokyo.
First, I want to change the course of history in Puerto Rico. Then, I want to go to Paris in 2024. If I can make that happen, too, then I’ll be happy.
Skater M. Santiago the Disney Movie?
M. Santiago didn’t begin skateboarding until he was 13, but now that he’s finally gotten the hang of it, he has no plans of stopping.
His mother uprooted the family from Cayey, Puerto Rico, to Lowell, Massachusetts, and it was there, at the Roberto Clemente Skate Park, that he took his first tentative steps on a skateboard.
He jokes that it was “love at first fall,” and that it was this feeling that kept him out of the expanding gang culture. He says that his mom is the one who made this happen.
She rescued me from perilous situations and led me to a place where I could pursue my passions and realise my aspirations.
He began skating competitively at age 14, and by age 17 he was attracting sponsors and his videos were going viral.
Around that time, Santiago made a name for himself by besting established skateboarders like Nyjah Huston and Chris Cole to win the title of “Best Trick” at a contest.
Afterward, he turned professional. Here’s his pitch to Disney, which he made to his 270,000-plus Instagram followers.
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Conclusion
Cayey, Puerto Rico native and Men’s Street skater M. Santiago competed this past weekend. But he spent his formative years at the Boys & Girls Club in Lowell, Massachusetts, where he grew up.
The Roberto Clemente Skate Park, located close to the Club, was constructed when he was 14 years old. He began skating, and hasn’t stopped since.
