Paris 2024 Olympics: Skateboarding – history, rules, reigning champions – Firstpost

Skateboarding has a rich and storied past, culminating in its long-awaited Olympic inclusion at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. It has been continued for the Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, meaning skateboarding is here to stay for the foreseeable future. Although relatively new to the Olympic scene, its impact has been undeniably remarkable.

Skateboarding emerged in the United States in the 1950s as a dynamic and youthful sport, coinciding with the rise of surf culture. Initially embraced as part of the underground, alternative cultural movement of the 1980s, it embodied ideals of freedom, rebellion and excitement.

Over time, skateboarding evolved and gradually gained popularity. In the early 21st century, it became more accessible and attracted a large audience of younger enthusiasts.

What are the rules?

Skateboarding’s greatest talents will compete at the Paris Olympics, showcasing their skills in the exciting park and street disciplines. Competitors will show off their tricks, trying to meet the requirements for difficulty, speed and range of motion.

The competition consists of two phases: preliminary rounds and finals.

The park event requires athletes to complete a varied course with bowls and sharp turns to build momentum and perform aerial tricks.

In skateboarding competitions, competitors are judged on the height and speed of the tricks they perform during jumps, along with their ability to use the entire surface and overcome obstacles. Each skater completes three 45-second runs, with their best performance counting toward their overall score.

Street races are held on a straight course that mimics the typical urban environment where skateboarding originated, with elements such as stairs and railings.

Competitors will perform various tricks and be judged on their control of the board during the two 45-second runs and five trick attempts.

What is the history of skateboarding in the Olympics?

Skateboarding was first introduced at the Tokyo Olympics. It has found a place in the upcoming Paris Olympics and will also be seen at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Who won the Tokyo Olympics?

At the Tokyo Olympics, Japanese athletes dominated the skateboarding events, winning three of the four gold medals and five of the twelve medals in total. Yuto Horigome kicked off the dominance by winning the men’s street competition, while Momiji Nishiya and Sakura Yosozumi won gold in the women’s street and park events, respectively.

The podiums in the women’s event were occupied exclusively by teenage athletes, with an average age of just over 14. Notably, Cocona Hiraki, at the age of 12, became the youngest Olympic medalist since 1936 with her silver in the women’s event.

The only event not claimed by a Japanese skater was the men’s park skate, where Australian Keegan Palmer won the gold medal. This was a remarkable achievement by Japanese and other young skaters, showing the changing landscape of skateboarding at the Olympics.

Men’s Street
🥇: Yuto Horigome (Japan)
🥈: Kelvin Hoefler (BRA)
🥉: Jagger Eaton (US)

Women’s Street
🥇: Momiji Nishiya (Japan)
🥈: Rayssa Leal (BH)
🥉: Funa Nakayama (Japan)

Men’s Park
🥇: Keegan Palmer (AUS)
🥈: Pedro Barros (BRA)
🥉: Cory Juneau (USA)

Women’s Park
🥇: Sakura Yosozumi (Japan)
🥈: Cocona Hiraki (JPN)
🥉: Sky Brown (GBR)

Which skateboarders should we keep an eye on?

Jagger Eaton, United States: Although teams have not yet been announced, Eaton won bronze in the street competition in Tokyo and is expected to become the first person to compete in both park and street at the Olympics in Paris. He became the first athlete to win both park and street world championships when he captured the park title in February 2023.

Sky Brown, Great Britain: The 15-year-old phenom is expected to compete in her second Olympics after becoming her country’s youngest medallist in Tokyo when she won bronze in the park competition at just 13 years and 28 days old. As a two-sport athlete, she narrowly missed out on also qualifying for the surfing competition in Paris.

Nyjah Huston, United States: The 29-year-old Huston was the favorite to win gold on the street in Tokyo but finished a disappointing seventh. He was expected to compete for a medal this time after recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

Arisa Trew, Australia: The 14-year-old is expected to make her Olympic debut in the park competition. Trew rose to fame last year when she became the first woman to perform a 720 trick, first made famous by skateboarding legend Tony Hawk in 1985. The trick involves making two full rotations in the air.

Ginwoo Onodera, Japan: Onodera, now 14, won the men’s street competition at the X Games last May when he was just 13. The Japanese star won bronze at the 2023 World Skateboarding Championships and became the youngest national champion in Japan’s history when he was 12.

Where will skateboarding take place during the Paris Olympics?

The skateboarding will provide a beautiful backdrop when the event takes place on the Place de La Concorde in the centre of Paris, opposite the Eiffel Tower.

When is skateboarding at the Paris Olympics?

The Men’s Street heats and finals are on July 27. The Women’s Street heats and finals are on July 28.

Women’s Park prelims and finals are on August 6. Men’s Park prelims and finals will be held on August 7.

(with input from AP)

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