X Games Chiba 2024: Shirai Sora leads Japanese men's street sweep with maiden gold

It may not be an Olympic medal. But Shirai Sora will more than happily take it.

Shirai spearheaded a Japanese sweep of the men’s street skateboarding podium with his first career X Games gold medal in Chiba, Japan, on Sunday (22 September).

Shirai overtook Netsuke Kairi on his final run of 94.66 for the win as X Games Chiba 2024 came to an end. Onodera Ginwoo, who won the event last year, placed third with an 89.00.

Nyjah Huston, who had qualified first for the final and was eyeing to become the X Games’ all-time leader in wins here, finished last among the eight finalists (71.33). Newly crowned world champion Sasaki Toa ended up seventh with a 73.00.

“I wouldn’t say I was burned out after the Olympics but I didn’t have a great result there and it was frustrating,” Shirai said.

“I was exhausted, though, and couldn’t find the time to get ready for this so I wasn’t sure about my chances. But I somehow managed to land all my tricks and I don’t know what’s what anymore.

“This was a contest I’ve wanted to ever since I was a kid so I couldn’t be happier.”

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Shirai was a question mark for these X Games. Just before the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, he was hospitalised by illness.

The 22-year-old managed to recover in time for the Games but missed the podium again, as he did at Tokyo 2020 in 2021.

Physically and emotionally shot, Shirai wasn’t sure if he could or even wanted to compete this weekend.

But he did, and as Netsuke cooked up the pressure on him by throwing down a 93.00 to wrest the lead from him, Shirai one-upped him for victory. He was the only finalist to clear 90 twice on this night.

“It was sort of a payback competition for me, if you will,” he said. “I even thought about not coming here. I was tired and a month wasn’t enough to recover.

“But I did, and figured out a way to win. I felt good yesterday which gave me some confidence. Things turned out really nicely.”

For a lot of the skaters, the X Games in Japan marked the end of a long three years, since the end of the Tokyo Olympics and including the Games in Paris. Shirai said it was too early to think about LA28, but one could tell it was already at the back of his mind.

“I can’t think about what lies four years down the road. It’s not like the qualifiers are starting. But if I approach each and every one of these contests the way I did this time, I’m sure LA will be an option for me.