Olympian honored by city, county
Poe Pinson has come full circle. The 19-year-old celebrated her fourth birthday on her first board at the park at Main Beach. On Friday, it was officially named in her honor.
Pinson made her Olympic debut at the Paris Olympics on July 28. She made it to the finals, where she finished fifth. To show its appreciation, her community came out in force on Friday afternoon — first at the naming ceremony and later at a parade downtown. Fernandina Beach Mayor Bradley Bean and John Martin, chairman of the Nassau County Board of County Commissioners were on hand Friday to present Pinson with a joint proclamation.
“I did watch you on TV, and I think you did a fantastic job,” Martin said. “You were the crowd favorite, from what I saw.”
Martin then read the proclamation, saying in part, “Whereas, Miss Poe Pinson began skateboarding at the Fernandina Beach Main Beach Skate Park on her fourth birthday, where she immediately took to the sport and has since worked tirelessly to hone her abilities.
“And whereas, from truly novice beginnings, Miss Pinson entered her first skateboard competition at the age of 6 and subsequently advanced in a variety of prestigious and international skateboard-ng competitions, earning coveted Olympic-qualifying points along the way.”
The proclamation included Pinson’s competitive success over the years:
- 2015 Exposure Skate street division, first place, Encinitas, Calif.
- 2016 Exposure Skate street division, third place, Encinitas, Calif.
- 2017 Rocky Mountain Long Beach, Calif. Rampage skate event, first place, Colorado Springs, Colo.
- 2017 Exposure Skate pro women’s street division, 19th place, Encinitas, Calif.
- 2018 Exposure Skate pro women’s street division, second place, Encinitas, Calif.
- 2019 Dew Tour women’s street division, 25th overall and semifinalist alternate, Long Beach, Calif.
- 2019 X Games women’s street division, fifth place, Minneapolis, Minn.
- 2021 USA National Skateboarding Championship, second place, Los Angeles, Calif.
- 2021 Dew Tour, fifth place, Des Moines, Iowa
- 2021 Street World Championships, 16th place overall and advanced to semifinals, Rome, Italy
- 2024 International Olympics Women’s Skate-boarding Championships, fifth place, Paris, France
“Whereas, Miss Pinson is a humble role model to skateboarders of all ages and represents our community with pride and distinction,” Martin continued to read.
“On the world stage, her accomplishments are truly remarkable and worthy of recognition.” Bean presented Pinson with the key to the city.
“It’s very rare that you can get the entire town to agree on something,” Bean said. “One thing the whole community agrees on is we love Poe Pinson. This is a great honor for us. Poe has brought great honor to our entire community.
“I think I disagree. I think Poe should have gold. I have right here something gold. It’s the highest honor a mayor can bestow. This is the key to the city.
“It’s a very rare thing to do. In the last 20 years, there have only been three keys to the city issued, including this one.” Bean said the key represents home.
“No matter how far you go, and we know Poe is going big places. She’s getting back out of here real soon. The key to the city represents that this is home,” Bean said. “Poe, I’m honored to present to you the key to the city.”
A double-sided sign bearing Pinson’s name was unveiled at the newly named park.
“Thank you, everyone,” Pinson said. “I kind of ran out of words like a week ago. Thank you all so much. This is so crazy. This has never crossed my mind, and now this is here, and it still hasn’t even crossed my mind. So, wow. “Thank you, everyone, for everything. It really means a lot. Small-town community. Can’t get it anywhere else. I love you all.”
Since Pinson qualified for the Olympics, the town has pulled together for her and the Friends of the Fernandina Skatepark. Scott Inglis, chairman of the Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival, presented a check for $5,000 to the Friends after the presentation for “expanding the skate park and making improvements.”
“Let’s make that happen,” Inglis said.