Japan remains triumphant in women’s skateboard street following electrifying eliminations and final rounds.
In a field consisting entirely of teenagers, World No. 1 and No. 2 Coco Yoshizawa and Liz Akama of Japan were going neck and neck to claim the Olympic title in their debut. Fourteen-year-old Yoshizawa won gold after jumping into first place with the highest single trick score of 96.49 for a bigspin flip frontside boardslide. Both women had the highest run scores, with Yoshizawa scoring 86.80 and 15-year-old Akama earning 89.26.
Since athletes are scored by their best of two 45-second runs and their two best individual tricks out of five attempts, it’s imperative that athletes do well in both sections. American Paige Heyn and China’s Cui Chenxi had high trick scores, but their mediocre run scores held them back from joining the podium. Heyn leaned into her ability to skate in switch, which is significantly more difficult and earned her additional points.
Japanese Funa Nakayama, the defending Olympic bronze medalist, and Australian Chloe Covell were unable to earn a score in the separate trick round and finished seventh and eighth, respectively.
"There were areas where I lacked practice and [other] parts where I was being too meticulous," Nakayama said of her performance.
Brazilian Rayssa Leal struggled in the eliminations round, but came back with ferocity in the final.
"In the semifinals I was nervous, but in the finals, I was home," Leal said. "I'm really, really happy."
After scoring a 71.66 in the run portion, the she earned two high scores in the trick section, including a 88.83 on a kickflip frontside boardslide that pushed her into the bronze medal position. The 16-year-old now has two medals from different Olympics. Japan and Brazil are the only two countries to win medals in this event.
American Poe Pinson went big in her final trick attempt and even took off her signature headphones to focus, but was unable to better her existing trick scores. She finished fifth.
"I just love skating and being on my board," Pinson said. "I just want to land [tricks] and not die."
Women's skateboard street medalists
🥇Coco Yoshizawa (JPN)
🥈Liz Akama (JPN)
🥉Rayssa Leal (BRA)