Asia
Japan big flips to gold & silver medals in Women’s Street Skateboarding
14-year-old Coco Yoshizawa took the top spot
For the second straight Olympics, Japan brings home the gold medal in Women’s Street Skateboarding. Fourteen-year-old Coco Yoshizawa blew minds with a big flip frontside boardslide down 10 stairs. Then she did a hurricane grind down the rail and it was a wrap. The Japanese phenom won the gold medal with 272.75 points.
Hot on her heels was her teammate, Liz Akama, who secured the silver medal for Japan with a score of 265.95. The bronze medal went to Rayssa Leal from Brazil with 253.37 points in total.
Overall, the first Skateboarding event in Paris was thrilling and exhilarating for some and heartbreaking for others. Eight women out of the 22 skaters qualified for the finals on Sunday, July 28 with Coco eventually winning.
Tokyo 2020’s gold medalist, Japan’s Momiji Nishiya, did not qualify for the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics because there were three Japanese skaters who were ranked higher than her in the world.
Check out the Women’s Street Skateboarding highlights below.