"Nong Mini" started from a love of cycling and progressed to winning the gold medal in women's street skateboarding at the 2025 ASEAN Games at just 10 years old.
"Nong Mini," whose real name is girl Janakao Udomphen, is a remarkable 10-year-old from Udon Thani. Around the age of 3-4, she loved riding her bicycle a lot. However, her father noticed she sometimes rode too far out of sight, which could be unsafe. So he switched her to skateboarding, which has a smaller playing area and keeps her within his sight at all times.
Because Nong Mini also enjoyed skateboarding after her father introduced it and trained her diligently, she became skilled. She has a role model and inspiration in this path: "Nong ST" Wareeraya Sukkasem, a senior national team member who made history as the first Thai athlete to qualify for skateboarding at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.
A turning point for Nong Mini was participating in the 33rd ASEAN Games 2025 hosted by Thailand, competing in women's street skateboarding. Her idol, Nong ST Wareeraya Sukkasem, also competed for the gold medal. This motivated her not to put pressure on herself but just to perform her best.
Nong Mini performed six runs, achieving a total highest score of 160.34 points, winning the gold medal. The silver went to Ni Yayan Malana Farbrather from Indonesia with 125.42 points, and Nong ST Wareeraya Sukkasem scored 111.18 points to earn bronze.
When Nong Mini won the gold medal, she frankly said she did not expect it. She recalled starting skateboarding at age 4 because when she was in Nong Khai, she rode her bike far and her father worried about accidents. So he had her switch to skateboarding near their shop. At first, it felt difficult, but with frequent practice, it became easier due to rigorous training.
She wants to dedicate this gold medal to her parents, who taught her skateboarding. She aspires to compete in the Olympics like her idol Nong ST did. She dreams of winning an Olympic gold medal and thanked all Thai people for their continuous support.
This marks a very promising start for "Nong Mini," girl Janakao Udomphen, with her gold medal at the 2025 ASEAN Games. With her determined and resilient attitude despite tough training, pursuing the Olympics to follow her idol’s footsteps is certainly within reach.