Skateboarders to watch at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics
We take a look at the skateboarders we’re expecting to see when the sport makes its Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020.
Skateboarding
Skateboarding is making its way on to the biggest stage of them all: The Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020.
With the entry lists still to be decided, we’re taking a look at the big names who will be hoping to make an impact in Olympic skateboarding.
Nyjah Huston, USA
One of the most decorated skaters of all time, Nyjah Huston is arguably the biggest star in contest skating.
He’s competed in competitions since 2004 and built a following along the way, cementing him as one of the most talked-about names in the skateboarding.
A eight-time X Games street gold medallist – and a four-time champion of World Skate / Street League Skateboarding – there isn’t much Huston hasn’t achieved in his career, and he’s only in his early twenties.
Though he’s had injury setbacks, the competitor inside him won’t quit. Find out more about Huston’s thoughts on the road to Tokyo in our exclusive video interview.
Aori Nishimura, Japan
Tokyo-based Aori Nishimura is one of Japan’s biggest skateboarding medal hopefuls. She’s experienced a rapid rise to stardom since winning gold at the X Games at 15 years of age.
She underwent surgery on her left knee in 2017, which ruled her out of competitions until July 2018 where she came back to claim silver at X Games, Minneapolis.
Skating in the women’s street competition next year, she’ll have the home crowd behind her, and will be a serious contender to take home the inaugural Olympic gold.
Yuto Horigome, Japan
Not many people are able to keep Nyjah Huston off the podium at street contest but Yuto can.
He won three out four SLS contests in 2018.
The 20-year-old recently turned pro and the video part he released is two very satisfying minutes worth of skateboarding.
As a safe bet to represent Japan at Tokyo 2020, the Olympic Channel invited Yuto to shred the Tokyo streets for the Flow Mode series.
Jagger Eaton, USA
When you make your X Games debut at the age of 11 in the big air competition, you’ve got something special. Jagger Eaton has just that.
Still the youngest-ever X Games competitor, Eaton has built on those early signs of greatness, culminating in an unbelievable 2018.
He captured both the Tampa Pro and Simple Session titles, and achieved his biggest success to date when he snatched silver in the X Games street event in Norway and Minneapolis.
Now 18 years old, hitting his stride at just the right time, so 2020 could see him make history yet again – this time on an Olympic stage for Team USA.
Margielyn Didal, Philippines
Margielyn Didal is a Filipino trailblazer.
In 2018 she made her debut at the X Games in Minneapolis and was also named as one of TIMES Magazine's 25 most influential teens for 2018.
Over the years, her skating success has raised the profile of the sport in her hometown of Cebu City.
The 19-year-old really shone for her country when she won the gold medal at the 2018 Asian Games in the women’s street event. Didal outskated the rest of the field, performing a gravity-defying 360-degree flip out for the first time in her career.
With her confidence high – and a nation of fans behind her – Didal could be one of the breakout stars of Tokyo 2020.
Ayumu Hirano, Japan
Ayumu Hirano may be known for his snowboarding antics, having won halfpipe silver in Sochi 2014 and PyeongChang 2018 - but now the he's turned his attention to riding on wheels.
The 20-year-old is set on skateboarding at Tokyo 2020 in the park discipline.
Don't be surprised to see the name Kaishu Hirano mentioned in Olympic circles either.
At 16 years old, Ayumu's younger brother is making a name for himself on the slopes snowboarding as well.
Kisa Nakamura, Japan
Winning gold in your debut X Games might be considered the pinnacle of a skater’s career, but for Kisa Nakamura, it feels like the first chapter.
Skating for the first time in the X Games Austin in 2016 – aged just 16 – she took gold in the park terrain.
She feels strongly about using her success to inspire other girls to take up the sport, and what better stage to reach potential skaters than by winning gold in Tokyo? We caught up with Kisa and got her thoughts on the sport’s Olympic debut.
Lizzie Armanto, Finland
Born in Southern California, Lizzie Armanto surprised a few people by choosing to represent Finland.
She has dual citizenship with the USA and is one of the top park skaters around.
The 26-year-old was the first woman to complete Tony Hawk's infamous 'loop'.
Armanto feels a responsibility to be at the Olympics in order to "keep skateboarding skateboarding, and not let it turn into something else."
Shaun White, USA
Three-time Olympic snowboarding gold medallist Shaun White was a skateboarder before he was a snowboarder.
Although he has 13 Winter X Games victories, he's also claimed two summer X Games gold medals in the skate vert event.
White has put his snowboard aside with the intention of competing in Tokyo on a skateboard.
His specialty (vert skating) won't be at the Olympics but White is hoping he can transition to the park discipline.
It’s a bold step, but if anyone can make the jump from winter to Summer Olympic champion, he can. You can find out more about White’s burning ambition to claim gold in 2020 in our video interview.
Sky Brown, Great Britain
10-year-old Sky Brown is a aiming to become Britain's youngest ever summer Olympian.
The Japanese-born star has just been named in on the five-man Skateboard GB team aiming to qualify to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Although based in Japan, Brown chose to represent the country of her father.
The multi-talented star is competes in all ages competitions and took out the girls competition at a World Cup skate event in Tallinn, Estonia in February 2019.
As well as being an accomplished surfer, she won the first ever champion of Dancing with the Stars: Juniors last year.
Keep up to date with Olympic skateboarding with these videos on the Olympic Channel.