Tokyo (AFP)
The Japanese Momiji Nishiya, 13, became the first Olympic champion in the history of skateboarding, an additional sport at the 2020 Olympics, in the street ladies category, Monday in Tokyo, ahead of the Brazilian Rayssa Leal (13) and the Japanese Funa Nakayama (16 years old).
Nishiya, silver medalist at the 2021 Worlds and who will celebrate her 14th birthday on August 30, is not the youngest champion in the history of the Olympics.
The precocity record has been held since 1936 by the American Marjorie Gestring, crowned in diving at 13 years and 267 days.
Nishiya, originally from Osaka and inspired by her brother to practice this board sport, brought the second gold medal in skateboarding to Japan in as many events.
The day before, Yuto Horigome won in men's street, ahead of the Brazilian Kelvin Hoefler and the American Jagger Eaton.
Skateboarding entered the Olympic program to rejuvenate audiences.
Of the eight finalists on Monday, six are between 13 and 20 years old.
Street is one of the two disciplines offered at the Olympics with the park (or bowl).
In street, the skater must string together very technical tricks (figures) on modules reminiscent of street furniture such as ramps.
In competition, the riders must chain two runs of 45 seconds each and then launch five tricks.
Only the four best scores out of the seven obtained are taken into account for the final score.
Nishiya got 15.26 points, Leal 14.64 and and Nakayama 14.49.
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