Olympics: Horigome wins first Olympic gold for skateboarding
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Japan's Yuto Horigome during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Sports Park Skateboarding in Tokyo on July 25, 2021.
PHOTO: AFP
TOKYO (REUTERS, AFP) - Yuto Horigome of Japan claimed the first Olympic gold medal in skateboarding when he won the men's street final in Tokyo on Sunday (July 25).
In searing heat at Ariake Urban Sports Centre, Horigome finished with scores of 9.35, 9.50 and 9.30 for a total of 37.18, 1.03 points ahead of Brazil's Kelvin Hoefler.
In searing heat at Ariake Urban Sports Centre, Horigome finished with scores of 9.35, 9.50 and 9.30 for a total of 37.18, 1.03 points ahead of Brazil's Kelvin Hoefler.
American skater Jagger Eaton came in third with 35.35 points.
Nyjah Huston, a star skateboarder who was expected to challenge Horigome for the gold, crumbled after landing the first trick in the final and finished seventh.
Earlier, Horigome, who grew up in the same ward where the venue is, said he would hang his gold medal on his Pokemon stuffed toy after he unveiled a wonder-trick en route to winning the historic gold medal.
Horigome was trailing after two poor runs in the final but he reeled off a string of monster moves, including a nollie backside 270 railslide that he had never performed before in competition.
The Tokyo native scored 9.50 for the trick, the highest score for any move in the final.
Nyjah Huston, a star skateboarder who was expected to challenge Horigome for the gold, crumbled after landing the first trick in the final and finished seventh.
Earlier, Horigome, who grew up in the same ward where the venue is, said he would hang his gold medal on his Pokemon stuffed toy after he unveiled a wonder-trick en route to winning the historic gold medal.
Horigome was trailing after two poor runs in the final but he reeled off a string of monster moves, including a nollie backside 270 railslide that he had never performed before in competition.
The Tokyo native scored 9.50 for the trick, the highest score for any move in the final.
The 22-year-old said: "That was new to any competition. I started to practise that trick just before the finals, it's something I've never tried in any final."
"I was very nervous but I was so happy I made it."
It was the first of four gold medals to be handed out in skateboarding's Olympic debut, with women's street to be contested on Monday followed by the men's and women's park competitions.
Skateboarding's inclusion into the Olympics marks a turning point for the sport, which has its roots in youth street culture and has influenced everything from art to fashion.
"I was very nervous but I was so happy I made it."
It was the first of four gold medals to be handed out in skateboarding's Olympic debut, with women's street to be contested on Monday followed by the men's and women's park competitions.
Skateboarding's inclusion into the Olympics marks a turning point for the sport, which has its roots in youth street culture and has influenced everything from art to fashion.
