Japan’s Momiji Nishiya made history after winning gold in the women’s street skateboarding competition at the summer Olympics in Tokyo. Aged 13 years and 330 days, Nishiya is now the second youngest champion in the history of the Games.
Nishiya’s performance at the Ariake Urban Sports Park, which consists of a series of stairs, rails, and ramps, scored her 15.26 and put her ahead of Rayssa Leal, another 13-year-old from Brazil. Meanwhile, the bronze medal went to another Japanese national, 16-year-old Funa Nakayama.
This was the youngest podium in the history of the Olympic games.
Nishiya is the youngest athlete to win at the Olympics in the last 85 years.
The only Olympic gold medalist who was younger than Nishiya is US springboard diver Marjorie Gestring. She was 13 years and 268 days old when she won the gold for women’s 3m springboard diving at the 1936 Berlin Games.
“I didn’t think I could win, but everyone around me cheered me on, so I’m glad I was able to find my groove,” said Nishiya.
Alexis Sablone, a 34-year old MIT graduate and skater from Brooklyn, took fourth place after unsuccessfully attempting the last two tricks.
“I was like, we’re finally here. Female skateboarders have reached critical mass. There’s enough now that there will be prodigies. And they’re here,” said Sablone.
It’s hard to ignore the fact that the competitors were delighted to see two 13-year olds win both gold and silver.
“All the medallists are super young, imagine that? It’s history, and I’ve just witnessed it. First-ever Olympics and I was able to skate with them,” said Margielyn Didal, a 22-year-old skater from the Philippines.
“For those young kids or just for girls or for everyone out there that wants to start skating I want to tell them to just skate and enjoy it. Keep safe, wear some safety gear. Nothing is impossible,” Didal added.
Of course, the Olympics are always exciting times for punters, especially with new sports like skateboarding, karate, sport climbing, and surfing making their debut in Tokyo. Some of the best new betting websites covering the Olympics include these new sports as well.
