One year on: How skateboarding's Olympic debut changed the Games

When skateboarding readied to make its Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020 in 2021 a world watched captivated.

What will this new sport bring? They wondered.

80 athletes from across the park and street disciplines, ranging from 12 to 46 in age, braved the soaring Japanese sun and the judgment of millions to put on a sport never seen before at an Olympic Games.

The wicked, technical skill matched with immense daring was immediately widely lauded, but so too was the unique competition culture.

Traditional hostilities between rivals that have so often defined Olympics of the past were notably absent. In its place were skateboarders cheering, hugging and supporting each other as they attempted to put down their very best.

When the final skate contest ended and the fourth inaugural Olympic skate champion was crowned, a verdict was then passed.

Skateboarding at the Olympics Games? A roaring success.

From participation to perception, skateboarding has undergone several changes since its Olympic debut.

To celebrate its Olympic 'birthday' Olympics.com caught up with some of the biggest names from the Games to find out about the impact the Games have had on skateboarding.

Olympic skateboarding one year later: Kickflipping stereotypes

Just after 14-year-old Sky Brown finished third in the women’s park contest to become Great Britain’s youngest ever Olympic medallist the skater didn’t hide her joy.

In between smiles and tears she expressed her gratitude for having had chance to showcase her sport:

“I hope I've changed people’s minds about skateboarding,” she said to the BBC at the time.

A year later it's clear that Brown and her peers have done more than just that.

Before the Games top Philippine skater Margielyn Didal said she used to only encounter negative reactions when it came to her skating:

“Before they were like, 'oh skaters, skating, there's no future,'” explained the 23-year-old. “But after the Olympics people were like 'Oh skaters! Margie!'”

Getting the opportunity to represent her country and showcase her sport on the Olympic stage gave her the kind of respect she felt skateboarding had been lacking for a long time.

“It’s an eye-opener to everyone that skateboarding has a future,” she continued explaining how immediate the switch in attitude was in her home country.

“They did go skateboarding day. I missed it but like in the Philippines they celebrated. They sent videos and they got a permit to do a parade. So, it's pretty cool.”

Just like Didal, world number one street skater Pamela Rosa says she has also noticed a positive shift in people’s opinions:

“Skateboarding used to be a marginalised sport,” the Brazilian said. “Now we are so much more respected.

“So many kids want to practice. Many parents are coming to the sport with a different mind, and the visibility is growing.”

The great post-Tokyo 2020 skateboarding surge

Shifting attitudes is just one of thing that has impacted skateboarding since Tokyo 2020.

According to Brazil's Kelvin Hoefler, who scored silver in the men’s street skate contest, there’s also been a demand in those wanting to try the sport out:

“It’s growing so fast after the Games,” the 29-year-old reflected to Olympics.com. “The number of people doing skateboarding has grown a lot.

Part of that drive in interest Hoefler believes is down to the increased media coverage that comes with the Games. Its newfound reach has touched people in a way he never imagined making him proud of having competed in Tokyo.

Olympic street champion Horigome Yuto has also been taken aback by the influence he and other skaters have been able to have because of the Olympics.

Now touring the world again on the competition circuit the Japanese skate star has seen the change first-hand, and he has personally been touched:

“After the Tokyo Olympics, I realised the popularity of skateboarding and how its values have spread to so many people. That inspired me. I want to continue to make the skateboarding scene more exciting and raise the level of skateboarding in the world.”

Tokyo 2020 skateboarding: Raising the women’s game

If there was one group in particular that captured the spotlight at the Ariake Urban Sports Park in Tokyo it was the women.

As well as showing the world how to properly celebrate an Olympic medal the park and street athletes were both able to flex how far women’s skateboarding has progressed.

Team USA’s Mariah Duran not only believes that the Olympics have helped raised the bar for women’s skating but they also help show young girls watching on that there is a legitimate path to success, and that they should take it:

“For the females it’s definitely pushed the level so much more because by having both genders in it [the Olympics] and allowing girls to be witnesses to the level they can get to, has pushed the level of skating so much more.

“When I first got into skating, when I was 10, I could count the number of female skaters on my hand. And I would have to look up on YouTube to even see them. Now having events like this and showing them what the level is pushing everybody to a new level.

“I think it also opens a different avenue for people who are really into it and can follow it,” the Arizona-native continued. “When I first picked up a board I was like, ‘mom, I want to skateboard.’ She’s like ‘ah!’

“That conversation is a little easier now to have so that’s really cool.”

Olympic silver medallist Rayssa Leal of Brazil also believes that the Olympics have given life to women’s skateboarding particularly in her own country:

“So many people used to say that girls couldn’t skate,” the recent SLS Jacksonville winner shared. “In Brazil women’s skateboarding was very marginalised.

Nyjah Huston on Olympic skateboarding: It’s all about opportunity

When the skateboarding events at Tokyo 2020 concluded a new constellation of stars were born.

But for some, global notoriety was already there.

With six world championships titles and 12 X Games gold medals already in to his name even before the Olympics, Nyjah Huston and his prodigious skating talents are widely known.

But for the 27-year-old American the Olympics mean more to him than another title to try and claim. They’re also a gateway for others to join him:

“I think it’s allowing a lot of opportunity for a lot of these new kids you see out there to be able to go out there and showcase your skills and just try to make a career for themselves.

“I want to see as many people as possible get to my level and be successful off of skateboarding.

“Some of my absolute favourite skaters are just so talented but they’re just getting by in life. So, I think that’s one thing the Olympics could definitely help out with, just getting more people to that level.”

Paris 2024: The best skateboarding is yet to come

Speaking after clinched the park bronze medal behind Australia’s Keegan Palmer and Brazilian Pedros Barros, Cory Juneau beamed as he told Team USA how pivotal it was to have skateboarding in the Olympics:

“It’s a big day for us. A big day for skateboarding, and it’s a big day for America, Australia, Brazil and everybody who is passionate about skateboarding.

“We are all friends at the end of the day. I like to say we don’t skate against each other; we skate with each other.”

In just under two years’ time skateboarding will return to the Olympics for Paris 2024 and, inevitably, for more ‘big’ moments.

For skaters across the world the Games in France are a fresh opportunity to bring their best, and for those who were there to make history at Tokyo, it’s a chance to apply the lessons learnt.

Set to be held under the iconic obelisk on the Place de La Concorde in central Paris there can be little doubt that skateboarding will surely delight again.

MORE: How to qualify for skateboarding at Paris 2024. The Olympics qualification system explained