Japanese skateboarder Yuto Horigome has secured his second consecutive Olympic gold medal in the men’s street skateboarding event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Horigome pulled off the highest-scoring trick in the final round, narrowly beating American skater Jagger Eaton by a mere 0.1 points. Another American, Nyjah Huston, claimed the bronze medal in the competition. Horigome’s victory added to Japan’s success in skateboarding, following Coco Yoshizawa’s gold medal win in the all-teenage women’s final.
Despite initially sitting in fourth place after the first two runs in the final, Horigome made a strong comeback with a high score on his first trick. Although he faltered on the following three attempts, he managed to regain the lead in the last two rounds. Eaton briefly took the top spot with an impressive score of 95.25, but Horigome’s final score of 97.08 secured his gold medal with a total of 281.14 points, just edging out Eaton’s 281.04 points. Huston claimed the bronze ahead of Sora Shirai from Japan.
The Tokyo bronze medallist, Eaton, showcased his skills by landing the biggest score of the afternoon in the penultimate round, but it was not enough to secure the top spot. Horigome’s consistency and strong performance throughout the final rounds ultimately led to his victory. Unfortunately, 14-year-old Japanese skater Ginwoo Onodera was eliminated in the preliminary round after struggling to score on four out of his five tricks.
The men’s street skateboarding competition at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games featured a competitive field with skaters from around the world showcasing their talent on the streets of La Concorde. Horigome’s victory demonstrated his skill and dedication to the sport, solidifying his status as one of the top skateboarders in the world. With skateboarding making its debut at the Olympics, the event provided a platform for athletes to shine and for fans to witness the exciting and dynamic nature of the sport.
As skateboarding continues to grow in popularity globally, events like the Olympics help elevate the sport to new heights and attract a wider audience. The success of athletes like Horigome and Yoshizawa highlights the talent and potential within the skateboarding community. Their achievements not only bring recognition to Japan but also inspire young skaters around the world to pursue their dreams and strive for excellence in the sport. The men’s street skateboarding final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will be remembered as a thrilling and competitive event that showcased the best in the sport.
