Keegan Palmer – Australia
SkateboardingSHANGHAI – Comments from Australia’s Keegan Palmer after finishing second in the Men’s Skateboarding Park Final at the OQS Shanghai on Sunday.
Keegan Palmer – Australia
On being up last and managing to score 92.30 points in his third and final run to secure second place:
“I was stressing myself out right there. I don’t know why I keep doing that to myself. I did it yesterday and I did it today.
“I’m really happy I just got to pull it together. I got to share this with some of my best friends. I’m so stoked for Tate (Carew, USA, who came first).
"I do most of my training at home with him. He comes to Australia, I go to America. We’re great working partners.
"This is the first time in a long time that we’ve both been on first and second. I get goosebumps talking about it.”
On the long wait for his score in the third and final run:
“Oh yeah, it was long. I didn’t think it was good enough. I took one trick out at the end. They ended up rewarding me with second, and I’m beyond stoked with that, just really happy.”
On his competition as a whole:
“I’m definitely relieved it’s over. It’s been stressful. I’ve put a little bit of pressure on myself, just because it’s the first contest after having been injured for the last … I don’t even know how long, a year and a half?
“At the start of last year I tore my meniscus. The last Dubai contest I bone-bruised my kneecap. Last year I bone-bruised my left femur. I just did a lot of stuff to both my knees.
"The last year and a half has been all knee issues. I’m beyond stoked to be healthy for once and that I’m able to still do this.
“It definitely takes a big toll on (the) mental (side) for sure. But when you surround yourself with good people and support to help you get through, it helps.”
On the high standard of skating at OQS Shanghai:
“The level of competition since Tokyo (2020 Olympics) has gone through the roof. You’ve got Jagger (Eaton, USA) winning the street contest and him being on the podium in park.
"Those things don’t normally happen (in skateboarding). Swimmers, those are the people who do that (laughs).
“It’s crazy to see the level of skating. Tate (Carew) wasn’t even in Tokyo last time. He didn’t make it. Now he’s winning, he’s making every single final, every single contest. It’s amazing.
"He’s an amazing person to be with, to skate against. The level is just getting higher and higher and I guess that’s what the Olympics does to sports.
"It makes the level go up and up. I’m literally getting goosebumps, it was so awesome (out there).”
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