The ride of his life: Olympic champion Horigome Yuto facing moment of truth in Shanghai
The Tokyo 2020 men's street skateboarding gold medallist has to start delivering in this week's Olympic Qualifier Series in the People's Republic of China if he is to return to the Games this summer in Paris.
Skateboarding
Back against the wall. Cornered rattlesnake. Win or bust. Sink or swim. Take your pick of phrases.
If he is to defend the men’s street skateboarding title at Paris 2024 this summer, Horigome Yuto must come through at the Olympic Qualifier Series (OQS) starting on Thursday (16 May) in Shanghai where he will, contrary to most expectations, be at a career crossroads.
“I feel like I’ve been made to grow up a lot (in the past year),” Horigome told Olympics.com this March in Dubai as he prepares to compete in the first leg of OQS. The second is in Budapest from 18-23 June.
“I experienced many things after the Olympics, the good and the bad. Some tough times, too. But all that helped me mature.
“I want to work even harder and pick up my ticket to the Olympics.”
Up to three athletes from a National Olympic Committee can qualify for each of skateboarding’s four events: the men’s and women’s street and park competitions, respectively.
Horigome, the Tokyo 2020 champion and most visible face in the sport from his country, is currently fourth in line among the Japanese street skaters behind his buddy Shirai Sora, Netsuke Kairi and 14-year-old wunderkind Onodera Ginwoo.
Since topping the podium at his home Olympic Games three years ago, a lot has changed for Horigome. His career. His life - and the competition rules.
At Tokyo 2020, a skater’s four highest scores from his/her runs and tricks combined counted towards the overall score. At Paris 2024, the best run and two best tricks will make up the score.
Horigome’s best scores three years ago all came from tricks.
Horigome, now 25, has not had a win on the World Skateboarding Tour since the qualifying race started two summers ago. He is fully aware of where he stands.
“The last two years or so, I’ve had shocking results in World Skate. But I’ve managed to gradually put it back together piece by piece.
“I have a chance to go to the Paris Olympics - two more contests to be exact. I want to bring out my best skate so I finish with no regrets.”
Horigome Yuto, here with Japan national coach Hayakawa Daisuke in Dubai in March, hopes to have something to smile about after the Olympic Qualifier Series.
Thanks to the gold medal he won on 25 July, 2021, Horigome became a name overnight, shooting to national stardom. The sponsors lined up. Everyone wanted a piece of him. If there was one skateboarder Joe Blow in Japan could name, it was Horigome.
But it became a burden. Handcuffed by the commercial commitments and public expectations, the carefree spirit from downtown Tokyo, at one point, even thought about packing it in. To him, it wasn’t a lot of fun. It wasn’t why he got into skateboarding to begin with.
Yet Horigome stuck it out. He found balance. Balance between what he wanted to do - to proliferate skateboarding and embed its culture in Japan - and what he had to do. Then came peace.
Horigome won’t lie. He still doesn’t particularly care for all the baggage that comes with being an Olympic champion and a world-famous skateboarder, hounded by people wherever he goes.
But he gets it. He understands what an Olympic gold medal brought him - and what it can continue to bring him, should he reach Paris. It’s why he’s all in for OQS.
“Of course there is an aspect to contests that makes me happy,” Horigome said. “But there is the preparation for it. You need to be in a certain frame of mind. You have to maintain your body. It really has not been rosy for the most part.
“But when you have that good ride that lead to results, it finally gives you joy. Friends. Family. When you make the people who support you happy, there is a sensation you feel for a split second.
“Sure, I do this for myself but I do it just as much to have that feeling. It’s why I compete. Plus entering contests does give you new opportunities.
“And the Olympics was the place that gave me such opportunities. I want to keep taking strides and chase new dreams or whatever it is that I want to do.”