Skateboarding Street World Championships 2022 in 2023: Top five moments
From shock early exits to the rise of new stars, discover the best moments from the Paris 2024 qualifier in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates as chosen by Olympics.com
Skateboarding
After a thrilling week of action the 2022 Street Skateboarding World Championships in 2023 hosted in Sharjah, have come to a close.
Tokyo 2020 silver medallist Rayssa Leal of Brazil and Frenchman Aurelien Giraud came out on top of the women's and men's contests, both producing their very best when the heat was on to be crowned world champions.
With over 270 skaters hitting the competition park across the five-day long contest there
As eyes now turn to the Park Skateboarding World Championships beginning with the women's open qualifier on Wednesday 8 February, here are the top five moments from the street contest as selected by Olympics.com.
1. Early goodbyes
The signs that the men's street championships in Sharjah were set to be an intriguing affair were made obvious on the opening day of the contest when a string of top skaters including Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medallist Horigome Yuto failed to advance past the open qualifiers.
The 23-year-old Japanese star was unable to produce a run score enough to see him part of the select 27 that progressed to the quarter-finals, and he was not alone.
Tokyo 2020 Olympians Shane O'Neill, Manny Santiago and Micky Papa were also notable names who were forced to leave the Aljada skate park earlier than many had anticipated.
It was a shocking night but it laid the perfect ground on which others would come to flourish.
2. The rise of Onodera Ginwoo
While some fell others rose, and the honour of the greatest ascent at the Aljada street skate park went to Onodera Ginwoo.
The 12-year-old from Kanagawa, Japan became the youngest ever male medallist at a street world championships after he clinched bronze on Sunday night.
Onodera flashed his potential when he won the national Japanese championship back in November last year but few expected him to translate his talent so quickly on the world stage.
"My favourite thing about skateboarding is when I land a trick that I have practised or have not been able to do it all. When I get it right, I’m like ‘Oh, Yes! I did it!’" Onodera said to Olympics.com on why he loves skateboarding so much.
"I also like the fact that I can become friends with all kinds of people with just a skateboard."
3. Rayssa Leal overcomes her injury to strike gold
When 15-year-old silver medallist Leal took a heavy fall during practice at the Aljada park last Thursday (2 February) that required a trip to hospital there was an outpouring of support for the Brazilian.
Thanking everyone for their kind messages, the street skateboarder returned to the competition the very next day with her wrist strapped and her resolve hardened.
Leal's courage to keep competing ultimately saw her rewarded and the skater was delighted with the result:
"I did what I had to do, but I tried not to think too much about my injured hand, even though it was bothering me," said Leal to Olympics.com after collecting her medal.
"I'm really happy that even though I was kind of injured, I managed to do all my tricks and am taking the title home."
4. Aurelien Giraud a top French prospect for Paris 2024
When Giraud took home the top prize on Sunday night the 25-year-old claimed with it a slice of history.
His victory saw him become the first ever athlete from France ever to be crowned a world skate street champion.
With his second-place finish at World Skate first Olympic qualifier in Rome last summer the man from Lyon is currently in a pole position to lead French hopes at Paris 2024 in over one and half years' time.
5. A golden atmosphere of friendship and fun
When skateboarding made its Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, in 2021, it left its mark as a sport that promotes friendship as much as progression.
True to form that same cameraderie and support was on display throughout the world championships at every turn.