Jagger Eaton’s quest for Olympic double takes a turn as Keegan Palmer tops park semi-finals at OQS Budapest

The waiting game has now begun for US skateboarder Jagger Eaton.

Since Olympic qualification began for skaters over two years ago under the baking hot Roman sun Eaton’s question was clear: compete in Paris in both park and street skateboarding.

The road has been long, winding and demanding of the Tokyo 2020 street bronze medallist. The physical toll of the challenge has been arduous; the mental aspect, too. And as of yesterday evening, everything had seemed on track for Eaton having qualified for the semi-finals in street and park at Olympic Qualifier Series (OQS) in Budapest.

Then, before the street showdown was about to begin it was announced Eaton would be withdrawing from the street semi-final - but not park.

Eaton hit the bowl as normal, going through his typical routine beforehand. But then, on his first run, he took a fall. He gingerly got himself to the sides and worked himself up into dropping in again. Then came a second fall. And then a third.

Unable to put down a single clean run the Arizonan finished the semi-finals in last place and in doing so, now leaves the door open to Tom Schaar - currently ranked fourth among US park skaters - to secure the final USA quota spot.

Schaar, who has been ripping around the bowl in Budapest, qualified for the final in second place in the semis with a statement 92.12 first run score. Only Olympic champion Keegan Palmer finished higher (93.76).

For Schaar, there is no doubt that he will throw everything at tomorrow’s final:

“I’m trying as hard as I can," the 24-year-old said of his Paris hopes. “The other contests I didn’t, I guess, get as fortunate and things didn’t work out but hopefully if it goes well tomorrow we’ll see."

Schaar’s showmanship wasn’t the only display that had local fans and fellow skaters applauding raucously.

After sealing his place in tomorrow’s final with a 87.37 final run, Brazil’s Augusto Akio dipped into the conic volcano structure in the middle of the bowl to juggle three clubs all while skating around inside the dip.

Round and round he went lapping up the love. “I just want to leave my mark,” the soulful Brazilian said after, with a smile.

Joining Akio, Schaar and Palmer in the final are OQS Shanghai winner Tate Carew, Gavin Bottger, Kieran Woolley, Viktor Solmunde and Vincent Matheron.

OQS Budapest is the last chance for skaters to accrue ranking points which will be used to determine the final field for the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

The men’s park contest final will take place on Sunday 23 June.

All the skateboarding action from the Olympic Qualifier Series Shanghai was streaming live on Olympic Channel via Olympics.com the official Olympics app for mobile devices.

• Australia’s Kieran Woolley: "Olympic skateboarding progression is out of this world"

Olympic Qualifier Series: Men's park semi-final results

The top eight advanced to the final.

Best run score of three attempts

1. Keegan Palmer (AUS) - 93.76
2. Tom Schaar (USA) - 92.12
3. Tate Carew (USA) - 89.38
4. Viktor Solmunde (DEN) - 89.16
5. Augusto Akio (BRA) - 87.37
6. Gavin Bottger (USA) - 87.23
7. Kieran Woolley (AUS) - 86.82
8. Vincent Matheron (FRA) - 85.33
9. Danny Leon (ESP) - 83.14
10. Thomas Augusto (POR) - 81.50
11. Hampus Winberg (SWE) - 81.00
12. Luigi Cini (BRA) - 79.40
13. Alex Sorgente (ITA) - 76.80
14. Keefer Wilson (AUS) - 73.58
15. Andrew Macdonald (GBR) - 57.00
16. Jagger Eaton (USA) - 26.93