These days, Tiago Lemos needs no introduction—but his humble beginnings and inspiring journey remind us just how much work it took to get where he is today.
Madars Apse caught up with Tiago in the latest episode of Skate Tales to pull back the curtain and go back to where it all began. He’s undeniably one of the greatest skaters in the game today, but his rise to stardom came with plenty of obstacles to get over. Good thing he has such gnarly pop! Take a look:
Tiago was born in the small Brazilian town of Jaguariúna, which means “river of the black jaguars.” Growing up in poverty, he and his friends found skateboarding as an affordable escape to keep them grounded and out of trouble. And ever since then, his life has simply revolved around it (and flying kites, ha).
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Related: New Balance Numeric Introduces the 808 Lite—Tiago Lemos’ Signature Shoe Reimagined
“From sleeping on the streets of one of the world’s most dangerous cities, to skating for 12 hours a day with no food, Tiago led a dreamer’s existence which relied on the kindness of friends and the balm of hope to keep his path in life headed toward a positive outcome,” Red Bull mentions in the description. And as you’ll see in the video, his friends are absolute powerhouses all the same.
On and off the board, Tiago has inspired countless individuals around the world to chase their dreams and charge fearlessly towards their goals. From the streets of his hometown to aspiring skaters across the globe, his journey is proof that passion, relentlessness, and that unstoppable (downright addicting) urge to progress can take you to unimaginable heights.
I was already a huge fan of Tiago, but after watching this, consider me a mega-fan. Every time he steps on his board he only gets better. Stronger. Can’t wait to see what this legend hits us with in the coming years.
