Tony Hawk

The Southern California-raised athlete rose to prominence in the 1980s as a young skateboarder who not only excelled in the sport, but also helped turn it into a nationally enjoyed pastime. Hawk made skateboarding history in 1999 when he became the first athlete to successfully land a difficult trick called "The 900," which required a difficult two-and-a-half aerial turn, and managed to be the only person to do so for several years. Hawk …