World Skate Games Italia 2024: Arisa Trew dominates to take women's world vert skateboarding crown
Australia's youngest Olympic champion dropped a switch McTwist en route to extending her golden summer, as Gui Khury defeated fellow Brazilian Augusto Akio for the men's title.
Skateboarding
Just over a month after topping the Olympic women's park podium, Arisa Trew took the women's world vert skateboarding title at the World Skate Games Italia 2024.
Brazil's Gui Khury beat compatriot Augusto Akio to win the men's event later on Saturday (7 September) in Rome's Terrazza del Pincio.
In the women's final, the 14-year-old Australian posted an 84.51 run to leave her second behind 13-year-old Hasegawa Mizuho. Trew then seized control of the contest, landing a switch McTwist (88.57) on her second trick attempt.
Trew became the first woman ever to land the trick - a 540 backside spin with a Mute grab on the non-dominant foot - in May this year. Its appearance in Rome prompted huge cheers from the crowd gathered at the foot of the ramp in the sunshine to witness the final.
And a third-round effort of 68.96 gave her a winning total of 242.02.
That left Trew over 24 points clear of Hasegawa, the contest's youngest entrant, who after posting her first two trick scores (57.08 and 74.87), was unable to challenge the Australian after bailing on each of her last attempts.
Kaihara Asahi, silver medallist from the 2022 edition of the World Skate Games, rounded out the podium in third place (207.59).
Elsewhere, Paris 2024 park Olympians Lilly Stoephasius, Dora Varella and Raicca Ventura finished in fourth, fifth and eighth respectively, while Australia duo Jada Ward and Elisa Pols took sixth and seventh.
Following her Roman conquest, Trew's attention will now turn to X Games Chiba 2024 where she will return to the park bowl on her hunt for another skateboarding crown.
Gui Khury victorious in men's world vert showdown
Brazil's Gui Khury was a cut above the rest as he soared to victory in the men's world vert final, getting the better of Olympic bronze medallist Akio.
The 15-year-old, who took silver two years ago in Argentina, took a grip on the eight-man final with a score of 92.09 in the run section.
From there, Khury held onto first by posting an 86.40 first trick score before then dropping an immaculate 900 to earn a 90.00 for a total of 268.49.
As the rest made chase, in the end, it was Akio who got closest.
Lying second after the runs (89.31), Akio made use of the rail element added for the best tricks to stay in medal contention, producing an 82.14 score with his second effort and a 78.51 with his third. He finished some 18 points behind Khury with a 249.96 total.
Colin Graham of the United States took third (246.62), thanks in part to a third trick score of 90.17 which was the highest of the evening.
Graham was one of four American skaters in the final with Reef Orlando, Mitchie Brusco and top qualifier JD Sanchez finishing fourth, fifth and sixth respectively.
Rudy Gomes and Japanese 14-year-old Inomata Soya rounded out the top eight.
With a world vert silver to go with his Olympic park bronze from Paris 2024, Akio will now set his sights on the World Skate Games men's park event taking place from 14-22 September.
Gui Khury added vert gold to his silver from 2022
World Skate Games Italia 2024: Women's vert final results
Total score comprises the best run score plus the two best trick scores.
- Arisa Trew (AUS) - 242.04 (84.51 + 88.57 + 68.96)
- Hasegawa Mizuho (JPN) - 217.77 (85.82 + 74.87 + 57.08)
- Kaihara Asahi (JPN) - 207.59 (80.14 + 66.41 + 61.04)
- Lilly Stoephasius (GER) - 189.04 (79.24 + 47.96 + 61.84)
- Dora Varella (BRA) - 179.48 (66.38 + 62.84 + 50.26)
- Jada Ward (AUS) - 168.12 (69.10 + 38.36 + 59.66)
- Elisa Pols (AUS) - 166.06 (65.61 + 27.16 + 73.29)
- Raicca Ventura (BRA) - 148.53 (67.33 + 81.20 + 00.00)
World Skate Games Italia 2024: Men's vert final results
Total score comprises the best run score plus the two best trick scores.
- Gui Khury (BRA) - 268.49 (92.09 + 86.40 + 90.00)
- Augusto Akio (BRA) - 249.96 (89.31 + 82.14 + 78.51)
- Colin Graham (USA) - 246.42 (79.63 + 76.62 + 90.17)
- Reef Orlando (USA) - 239.55 (82.44 + 77.50 + 79.61)
- Mitchie Brusco (USA) - 237.53 (72.33 + 78.93 + 86.27)
- JD Sanchez (USA) - 232.16 (89.14 + 69.83 + 73.19)
- Rony Gomes (BRA) - 213.33 (51.14 + 75.90 + 86.29)
- Inomata Soya (JPN) - 172.68 (84.22 + 88.46 + 00.00)