14-Year-Old Coco Yoshizawa Clinches Olympic Skateboarding Gold in Paris

In a remarkable display of skill and composure, 14-year-old Japanese prodigy Coco Yoshizawa soared to victory in the women’s street skateboard competition at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The event, held at the iconic Place de la Concorde, saw Yoshizawa demonstrate extraordinary athleticism and precision, marking a new chapter in Olympic skateboarding history.

As the sun beat down on the humid, open-air venue, a striking contrast to the previous day’s rain-soaked conditions which postponed the men’s event, the women's final pushed through with an all-teenage lineup that was nothing short of sensational. Yoshizawa emerged triumphant, amassing a total of 272.75 points across her top three runs. Each competitor had seven attempts at completing their runs, with the lowest four scores being droppable.

Following closely was Yoshizawa's fellow countrywoman, 15-year-old Liz Akama, who secured the silver with a score of 265.95. The teenage dominance of the event was further underscored by 16-year-old Brazilian skater Rayssa Leal, the oldest among the medalists, who collected the bronze with a score of 253.37, placing her comfortably ahead of fourth-placed Chinese competitor Cui Chenxi.

Yoshizawa's path to victory was by no means a clear ride; entering her penultimate trick, she had already achieved two substantial scores but required a third to complete her tally. Undeterred by the magnitude of the moment, Yoshizawa executed a high-risk maneuver down the handrail, which she completed flawlessly. The successful trick was met with feverish excitement as she hoisted her skateboard in anticipated victory even before her contenders completed their final runs.

The conclusion of the women’s event now sets the stage for the competitive men’s street skateboarding competition. Expectations are high for a strong Japanese contingent, with the likes of defending Olympic champion Yuto Horigome, Sora Shirai, and the young 14-year-old talent, Ginwoo Onodera. Their performances may well extend Japan’s dominance in the sport and continue their narrative of youthful supremacy on skateboarding's grandest platform – the Olympic Games.