Peru's Ángelo Caro Chases Olympic Gold After World Silver

Ángelo Caro stood on a world championship podium in São Paulo this March, clutching a silver medal he'd dreamed about for years. Now Peru's greatest skateboarder is aiming even higher.

The Lima native finished just under a point behind Japan's Toa Sasaki at the 2026 World Skateboarding Championships, scoring 173.32 points. It marked the first time Caro reached a World Championship podium, a breakthrough moment after recovering from a knee injury that had sidelined him weeks earlier.

"At a previous event in Japan, I couldn't participate because of swelling in my knee," Caro told Panam Sports. "But that eagerness helped motivate me, so that at the next event in São Paulo I could give it my all."

The achievement sets the stage for Caro's two biggest goals. First up: winning gold at the 2027 Pan American Games in Lima, competing at the skate park where he grew up practicing. Then comes the ultimate prize at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

"Having the Pan American Games in Lima in 2027 means a lot to me," Caro said. "I want the gold medal at home." The Games will take place in the very district where he was born, on familiar concrete that feels like a second home.

In Santiago, Chile, at the last Pan American Games, Caro came close but fell short. Now he's channeling everything into making sure the gold stays in Peru this time.

Why This Inspires

Caro's journey from fifth place at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics to world championship silver shows what persistence looks like. But what makes his story truly special is what he wants beyond the medals.

"My biggest dream is to always be able to make a living from skateboarding," Caro explained. "What I want most is for skateboarding to become a leading sport in my country, for kids not only to ask for a skateboard as a gift, but for parents to encourage them."

He's already seeing the ripple effects. Young skaters across Peru now have a homegrown hero showing them what's possible. Caro serves as a Team Panam Sports ambassador, representing his country at competitions worldwide and helping grow the sport he loves.

Between now and Los Angeles 2028, Caro has a packed schedule: the Street League in Brazil this August, the World Skate Championships in Asunción in October, and likely the 2026 South American Games in Santa Fe in September. Each competition is another step toward his Olympic dream.

"I know that gold medal is waiting for me," Caro said about Los Angeles 2028. "I'm training at 100% every day so I can go to the Olympics, have fun, and put everything I've worked on into practice."

His message to Peruvian fans captures the spirit driving him forward: "I'll be waiting for all Peruvians at the skate park for the 2027 Pan American Games in Lima. I want to share the victory with everyone; I know that together we'll be able to achieve it."