Skateboarder Nishiya, 13, becomes Japan’s youngest Olympic champion

Momiji Nishiya, 13, wins Olympic gold in women’s street skateboarding. © Tokyo 2020
Momiji Nishiya, 13, wins Olympic gold in women’s street skateboarding. © Tokyo 2020

Tokyo, Japan, July 26, 2021: The IOC’s decision to include skateboarding to attract the youth at Tokyo 2020 worked a treat on Monday when 13-year-old Momiji Nishiya won gold for the host nation in the women’s street competition at Ariake Sports Park.

Her victory followed the gold medal success of compatriot Yuto Horigome in men’s street the previous day and enabled Japan to go 2-for-2 in the short history of Olympic skateboarding. Nishiya also became Japan’s youngest Olympic champion in history with her victory.

Nishiya, from Osaka, finished first with a total score of 15.26 from the four of her seven runs that counted.

Brazil’s Rayssa Leal, also 13, finished second with 14.64 and Japan’s Funa Nakayama was third on 14.49.

The athletes took part in two runs and then performed five tricks, with four of the seven scores contributing to the total.

China’s Zeng Wenhui was sixth on 9.66 ahead of the Philippines’ 2018 Asian Games women’s street champion Margielyn Didal on 7.52 from just three scores including one trick.

A third Japanese skater, Aori Nishimura, finished eighth on 6.92 in the eight-strong final field.