Yet, as recent events in Paris have illuminated once more, Japan’s young female skaters are blazing a trail of brilliance.
For the second consecutive Olympics, Japan’s contingent has triumphed in the street skateboarding event – and the nation might very well replicate this success in the park category commencing August 6.
On Sunday, fourteen-year-old Coco Yoshizawa’s last-minute flourish secured her the gold medal at La Concorde Urban Park in Paris, narrowly surpassing her compatriot Liz Akama, 15. Their scores significantly outstripped the competition.
“It’s remarkable that teenagers can perform and achieve at such a lofty level in the Olympics,” Yoshizawa remarked to AP after executing a dramatic rail trick that crowned her as the Olympic champion.
On Monday, the 25-year-old street skateboarding virtuoso Yuto Horigame defended his Olympic title with a near-flawless performance, edging out Americans Jagger Eaton and Nyjah Huston by a slim margin.
Horigame and Team Japan had long been considered frontrunners for the Paris Olympics following the sport’s groundbreaking debut at their home Tokyo Games three years prior.
Back then, Momoji Nishiya, then 13, captivated the Japanese audience with her dazzling performance, clinching the inaugural women’s street gold at the Ariake Urban Sports Park.
In the 2021 Tokyo Games, Sakura Yosozumi, then 19, and Kokona Hiraki, then 12, excelled in the women’s park event, with Great Britain’s Sky Brown, then 13, securing bronze. Brown, incidentally of mixed Japanese descent, will be competing in this year’s park event alongside all three of these previous medallists.
“There’s no age limit for skateboarding at the Olympics, so any young skater can compete,” Hiraki, the youngest Olympic medalist since 1936, shared with CNN in July.
“There are many young skaters at the Olympics, and new talents emerge every year. I am eager to compete again, and I hope people will see how thrilling and enjoyable skateboarding can be.”
The rise of Japanese skateboarders is particularly striking in a nation where public demonstrations of the sport are typically frowned upon.
Skateboarding is legally restricted in bustling areas and largely confined to skate parks, presenting challenges for aspiring skaters to train in unrestricted spaces.
Moreover, Japan’s demographic challenges – with birth rates plummeting to unprecedented lows in 2023 – might have jeopardized the future of many sports.
However, the sport’s Olympic inclusion has sparked a surge in youth interest and resources. The number of skateparks in Japan has nearly doubled to 475 since 2021, according to the Japan Skatepark Association. Following another stellar medal performance, the prospects for further expansion seem promising.
“Previously, Japan lagged about 10 to 15 years behind the US in skateboarding proficiency,” noted pioneering Japanese skateboarder Junnosuke Yonesaka to CNN. Yonesaka has been a prominent figure in Japan’s skateboarding scene since the 1990s.
“But the number of skateparks has surged since the 2000s. Nowadays, more parks feature sections akin to those in official competitions, with high ramps and extensive handrails, fostering an environment where skaters can hone complex skills from a young age.”
Beyond Japan, teenage athletes are dominating women’s skateboarding across both disciplines.
The bronze medal in Paris street skateboarding went to the popular 16-year-old Brazilian Rayssa Leal, who became her country’s youngest-ever Olympic medalist at the previous Tokyo Games, while 14-year-old Cui Chenxi of China narrowly missed the podium, finishing in fourth place.
In the park event, 11-year-old Zhang Haohao of China is poised to become the youngest Olympian of Paris 2024 and the second youngest Olympian on record.
Other notable young competitors include 10-year-old Filipino prodigy Mazel Paris Alegado, who showcased her talents at the Asian Games last year, and 14-year-old Australian Arisa Trew, whose tricks have set world records.
Most significantly, Hiraki – who will turn 16 next month – emphasized that skateboarding must remain true to its cultural roots.
“I am both thrilled and conflicted that skateboarding is gaining Olympic recognition,” she reflected.
“It’s wonderful that skateboarding will gain global visibility. However, it was originally meant to be a source of enjoyment, and I am uneasy about it becoming a mere competition driven by rivalry. It’s been a complex experience for me, balancing these conflicting emotions.
