Roller skating was invented in 1735 by John Joseph Merlin, a Belgian who famously introduced his new wheeled shoes at a party in London and promptly crashed into a mirror.
Roller skating originated in the performing arts in the 18th century. It gained widespread popularity starting in the 1880s.
Roller skating was very popular in United States from the 1930s to 1950s, then again in the 1970s when it was associated with disco music and roller discos. During the 1990s, inline outdoor roller skating became popular. Roller skating has often been a part of Black and LGBT history in particular.
Roller skating is having a revival, but whatever you do don't call it a trend. While tie-dye and bread baking were among the popular stay-at-home activities that captured the collective imagination during 2020, there was another that found itself in the mainstream conscious again: roller skating.