Paris: In a thrilling display of youth talent, 14-year-old Coco Yoshizawa of Japan led a trio of teenagers to the podium in the women’s street skateboarding event at the Paris Olympics on Sunday. Competing before a packed crowd at the La Concorde venue, Yoshizawa secured gold, with compatriot Liz Akama taking silver and Brazil’s Rayssa Leal earning bronze.
As the top-ranked competitor entering the Games, Yoshizawa’s standout performance included a spectacular slide down the rail during the best-trick stage, which proved insurmountable for her competitors. Akama, who had a narrow lead going into the final tricks, executed an impressive 270 switch front board on her opening attempt but couldn’t improve on it.
Yoshizawa expressed her surprise and joy at winning, sharing that executing her tricks well was even more fulfilling than winning Olympic gold. “Paris is a big city and the Olympics is a very, very big event, and I’m very happy to win,” she said through an interpreter.
The enthusiastic crowd at the urban park demonstrated the growing popularity of skateboarding, a sport that debuted at the Tokyo Games just three years ago. Yoshizawa, who had the highest score in the opening heats, maintained her momentum through the final, skillfully utilizing the skatepark’s 18 features with two flawless runs. She had her highest-scoring trick (96.49) on her fourth attempt, showcasing a remarkable kick flip front board.
Leal, the 16-year-old Brazilian skater, was buoyed by the support of a large contingent of Brazilian fans. Despite a few falls, she clinched bronze with a kick flip front board on her final trick. “There are so many Brazilian fans here. It’s crazy,” Leal commented. “I did what I could, and I’m really happy.”
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The presence of three teenagers on the podium underscores the dominance of the next generation in women’s street skateboarding, where only a few of the 22 competitors in Paris are aged 20 or older. The school-age skaters dazzled against the backdrop of Paris’ iconic landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower, Grand Palais, and Arc de Triomphe.
Skateboarding, which saw a boost in television ratings after its Tokyo debut, continues to attract a younger audience as the Olympics evolve. The men’s street competition is scheduled for Monday, following a weather-related postponement on Saturday.
