Brazil's Lucas Rabelo takes gold in first Pan American Games men's street skateboarding final
Hours after Rayssa Leal won the women's title, Rabelo made it a Brazilian double at Santiago 2023 ahead of Peru's Angelo Caro and Luis Gonzalez of Colombia.
Skateboarding
There was more success for Brazil’s skateboarders at the 2023 Pan American Games on Saturday (21 October).
After Rayssa Leal had won the women's street final to claim the first skateboarding title in the history of the multi-sport extravaganza, compatriot Lucas Rabelo took victory in the men's event.
The park for the street competition was like a scene from Venice Beach with the ocean replaced by snow capped mountains, and chilled Californian onlookers with an electric Chilean crowd.
The 24-year-old took an early lead and dominated both the run and single trick sections, posting huge scores of 93.75, 91.15 and 79.55 for a winning total of 264.45 points.
Rabelo told Olympics.com afterwards, via a translator, "The level of competition was very high. All the skaters were so good and, for me, wearing Brazil's colours and representing this big country… is very gratifying,"
Peru’s Angelo Caro took silver with a total of 256.80, 7.65 points behind Rabelo, with Colombian Olympian Luis Gonzalez scoring 247.82 to claim bronze.
Lucas Rabelo competing in the men's street skateboarding final
The competition format consisted of two run attempts from each athlete, where they had 45 seconds to string together tricks and build a score. The top score for each skater is counted towards the final before they move to the single trick section.
In the single trick section, each athlete has five attempts. The top two of five scores are combined with the best run for a total score which determines rank.
The judging is similar to artistic gymnastics in the way that it is scored subjectively based on execution, degree of difficulty, variety, originality and style.
Rabelo was not an obvious winner having fallen on his wrist during warm-ups and then disappeared from the park before returning with a wrist brace.
“When the adrenaline hits, you forget about all the pain," he said after winning it all.
2023 Pan American Games men's street skateboarding podium (L-R): runner-up Angelo Caro, winner Lucas Rabelo, third-placed Luis Gonzalez
Pan American Games 2023 Men's Street Skateboarding - Final results
1. Lucas Rabelo (BRA) - 264.45
2. Angelo Cara (PER) - 256.80
3. Luis Gonzalez (COL) - 247.82
4. Ryan Decenzo (CAN) - 236.29
5. Mattias Dell'Olio (ARG) - 215.98
6. Ronald Ramirez (CHI) - 169.18
7. Emanuel Santiago (PUR) - 144.65
8. Gabryel Aguilar (BRA) - 135.91
History of Skateboarding at the Pan American Games
Skateboarding is making its Pan American Games debut in Santiago this week. After the sport’s inaugural Olympic Games in Tokyo, it has been appearing in multi-sport games across the world and will return to the big stage in Paris.
The men’s and women’s street final take place on the 21 October near the Estadio Nacional in Santiago and are followed by the men’s and women’s park final on the 22 October.