Professional skateboarder from South Africa, Jean-Marc Johannes, has been officially selected to represent South Africa at the International Youth Festival 2026.
This festival will take place in Yekaterinburg, Russia, from September 11 to 17. It functions as an international leaders' meeting rather than a sporting competition and serves as a stepping stone before Johannes travels to Stavropol for the KARDO World Series Final from September 16 to 20.
The event is organized by the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs as part of the national project 'Youth and Children.' It gathers about 10,000 participants aged 14 to 35 from over 180 countries for collaborative work on global issues, leadership development, and cultural exchange.
Johannes noted that the opportunity to be selected and recognized not only in sports is a huge privilege.
From Competition to Leadership
Over the last decade, Johannes has regularly competed internationally for South Africa and was chosen as a headliner for the upcoming KARDO World Series final, bypassing preliminary rounds. The KARDO program, supported by the Russia Land of Opportunities platform, is an international award for street culture and urban sports, evaluating over 2500 finalists in various disciplines, including skateboarding, parkour, and DJing.
Johannes emphasized that this invitation provides a unique chance to share his sporting experience from South Africa while simultaneously studying broader global factors shaping their industry. He intends to bring the acquired knowledge back to South African communities, pointing out that his selection reflects a changing societal view of skateboarding.
He explained that skateboarding has become a key element of urban culture, adding that the continuous development of local skate schools and masterclasses helps the sport unlock potential far beyond competitive skateboarding. Johannes applies his competitive discipline to prepare for both the Youth Festival and the KARDO World Series Final in Russia, stating that his goal is to remain physically and mentally prepared, as experience has taught him that success is achieved when preparation meets opportunity.
Overcoming Adversity
In early childhood, Johannes, who was diagnosed with chronic asthma syndrome at birth, spent most of his time in hospital wards. Waking up at three in the morning with difficulty breathing was a deeply isolating experience, compounded by financial anxieties due to expensive medical costs. Later, he realized that skateboarding would become a way for him to express himself outside the hospital.
Johannes shared that skateboarding became a way for him to express creativity, and he continues to see it as such despite its high competitiveness. He believes it is his voice, his art, and he will always adhere to this, as art is not limited by rules. After a local skateboarder noticed his practice alone at the Athlone stadium, Johannes met the wider skateboarding community in Cape Town. As his skills grew, he spent hours reading the Guinness Book of Records in the school library, where he noticed the absence of African representation.
He recounted repeatedly reading this book and realizing that nothing about them was in it, as page after page, year after year, South Africa was missing. He changed this reality by setting five world records in 2023, which allowed him to be included in the printed Guinness World Records 2024 as the first African skateboarder.
A Kid from Athlone
Through participation in the current Youth Festival, Johannes plans to track industry changes to help develop South Africa's sports infrastructure and realize his personal aspirations. Previously, he participated in Namibian national school exams in 2020. In the long term, he hopes to contribute to sports development with an anticipated understanding of the industry, striving to gain a comprehensive view of what the world will be like in the coming years.
For young South Africans, his main message remains unchanged: absolutely everything is possible with time, dedication, ambition, and the readiness to adapt to whatever comes along the way. He advises always keeping the goal in sight.
From hospital wards in Cape Town to the world stage at both the KARDO World Series Final and the International Youth Festival, Jean-Marc Johannes continues to redefine opportunities for African skateboarders.