Roller skating has its roots in the 18th century, when wheeled skates were utilised in theatre and musical events to simulate ice skating.
Belgian inventor John Joseph Merlin invented the first roller skates in 1760, with four wheels in a straight path with difficult steering and stopping
M. Petitbled of Paris designed a three-wheeled inline skate in 1819, despite being more manoeuvrable than Merlin's skates, was not extensively adopted
James Plimpton invented the quad skate in 1863, a popular roller skate featuring four pairs of wheels for easier control and stopping.
Today, roller skating is a worldwide popular recreational and competitive sport that people of all ages love.
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