Australian Olympic hero Arisa Trew has made a startling revelation about her flight home.
The 14-year-old skateboarding superstar captured the imagination of the nation by becoming the youngest Aussie ever to win a gold medal at the Olympics.
And she is still stealing hearts after revealing today (Wednesday) that she gave up her business class seat on the trip home to sit with her best friends.
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Sunrise host Matt Shirvington explained there was a pecking order to the seat allocation on the Qantas plane.
“Apparently, the breakdown is the medallists get first pick of business class, then the two-time Olympians or more get a shot at premium economy, and the rest are out the back of the plane,” Shirvington explained.
But that created an awkward scenario for Trew.
Appearing on the Jase & Lauren radio show on Nova, Trew was asked about her flight.
“Where did you get to sit on the plane? Because you’re a gold medallist, you’re 14 years old. Were you right up the front?” Lauren Phillips asked Trew.
And Trew’s reply stunned the radio hosts.
“I mean, I could have been sitting in business with all the medallists, but instead I chose to sit in economy with my two best friends, Chloe and Ruby.”
Those friends are fellow skateboarders Chloe Covell and Ruby Trew (no relation) who both missed out on medals, hence their seats “out the back”.
“You’re the cutest thing ever. We couldn’t love you anymore,” Phillips said.
“So Arisa, does that mean you got to give someone your gold medal business class seat?”
Trew: “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 else was sitting there but I don’t mind.”
Trew also revealed she was heading straight back to school and would be there tomorrow (Thursday).
“I’m gonna go back. I just love going to school, because it’s the skate park where I go to school,” she said.
“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.”
She hoped her gold medal winning performance had inspired other skateboarders and urged people of all ages to “give it a go”.
“Have fun and just find a good group of people to do it with, and just push yourself and never give up.” she said..