Sunday supremacy for Japan’s men and women Skateboarding Street squads as they sweep podiums

BUDAPEST - It was Skateboarding Street supremacy for the Japanese team at the Olympic Qualifier Series (OQS) Budapest on Sunday, with sweeps of the men’s and women’s podiums and some surprises on the nation’s Olympic rosters.

The Men’s Street final was won by Horigome Yuto (pictured), who with his victory did the seemingly impossible by vaulting two spots up his country’s rankings to claim the third and final Japanese men’s quota spot for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Returning to the Games for an opportunity to defend his Tokyo 2020 gold medal had looked to be beyond the grasp of the 25-year-old for months in the lead-up to the OQS. Horigome ranked fifth on the stacked Japanese team heading into OQS Budapest after failing to make the OQS Shanghai final in May.

With only one podium through the Olympic qualification period leading up to Budapest and multiple missed finals during that stretch, Horigome had been counted out by many, as his teammates such as Onodera Ginwoo, Sharai Sora and Netsuke Kairi put together better and more consistent results.

In order to earn his ticket to Paris 2024, Horigome needed a win on Sunday and for his compatriot Netsuke to finish below fourth place. Horigome’s winning performance and a rough go by Netsuke in the runs portion of the competition completed his turnaround.

After putting down the best scoring run of the first portion of the competition with a 90.26, Horigome took things up another level for the best tricks, with his nollie hardway 270 bluntslide to forward earning him 97.10 and putting an exclamation point on a heroic performance.

Horigome would finish with a total score of 283.31 out of a possible 300.

After scoring a disappointing 69.31 for his best run, Netsuke’s hopes of a fourth or better finish relied upon several of his competitors faltering. Unfortunately for the 2024 world championships silver medallist, that would not be the case, and with a total score of 254.72 and a seventh place finish, his Paris 2024 dream ended.

“I still can’t believe it,” said Horigome, “I had nightmares last night. I couldn’t sleep very well, because I needed first place to get to the Olympics.

“I’m super happy I made the Olympics. I think my confidence is back.”

Onodera would finish the day in second on 276.76 and will head into Paris 2024 as the world No.1. Sharai would cap off the Japanese men’s sweep with his score of 270.02.

Japan's women showcase their tricks in another Street sweep

The Women’s Street competition came down to the best trick portion, as the five Japanese competitors in the final threw everything they had at the course in a last-ditch effort to lock down a quota spot.

Four out of them put down at least one scoring trick of over 90 points.

Yoshizawa Coco eked out the victory with a score of 270.29, with her highlight bigspin flip frontside boardslide on her final trick attempt earning her a 96.12. Along with the win, Yoshizawa secured top spot in the world rankings.

“I believed in myself,” said Yoshizawa. “And that if I did the best I could come in first today in finals. I didn’t worry about anyone else, I just focused on my performance.”

Oda Yumeka was second on 268.52 but was fourth in the Japanese team rankings and denied a Paris 2024 ticket.

Rounding out the sweep to earn her Paris 2024 spot was Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist Nakayama Funa, who scored 263.62.

She claimed highlight-of-the-day honours in a final that was filled with them by landing a 96.84-scoring heelflip backside lipslide in her final best trick attempt.

Compatriot Liz Akama was fourth with a score of 262.50, enough to book her Paris berth.

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