Paris 2024 Olympics skateboarding: 14-year-old Yoshizawa Coco of Japan captures Olympic gold medal in women’s street

Youth reigned supreme Sunday 28 July as the best women’s skateboarders took to the course at Place de la Concorde in Paris, competing for the women's street Olympic title at Paris 2024.

Three teenagers claimed their spot on the podium: Yoshizawa Coco, a 14-year-old from Japan, took home the gold with a score of 272.75. Liz Akama, a 15-year-old also from Japan, grabbed silver with a score of 265.95 and 16-year-old Brazilian Rayssa Leal secured bronze with a score of 253.37.

Yoshizawa landed a near-perfect big spin flip frontside boardslide on her fourth trick, which received a score of 96.46 and propelled her to the top of the leaderboard.

Akama got off to a strong start, earning a 92.62 on her first trick. However, she did not record a score on her last three tricks but was able to hold the silver due to her strong second run where she scored 89.26.

Leal, who won silver in this event at Tokyo 2020, found herself in fourth place as she prepared for her final trick. Calm and collected, she pulled off a kickflip frontside boardslide to earn a score of 88.83 to claim the bronze medal.

Three teenagers star in women's skateboarding street final at Paris 2024 Olympics

Despite being only 14 years old, Yoshizawa displayed great poise and composure throughout her run to the gold medal.

She was the only competitor to land both her run attempts successfully and with remarkable consistency, putting down an 85.02 which she later upgraded to an 86.80. Only Akama had a better run score by the end of the section.

Japan has now won two straight gold medals in the event after Momiji Nishiya won the event at Tokyo 2020.

"I felt that there were areas where I lacked practice and also parts where I was being too meticulous. I need to rethink and not be too fixated," Yoshizawa said. "After this (finishing seventh in the final), I’m really struggling to find out what to do next, but I want to continue pushing as far as I can."

She also expressed her gratitude to friends and family who supported her throughout the competition.

"My family and friends are here. I want to thank them for supporting me and encouraging me to do my best," she said.

Akama provided insight into the special trick she attempted but was unable to land later in the competition.

"Today's performance had good points but also some bad because I couldn't pull off my special trick," she said. "I have been trying it a lot and practising a lot and I have actually done it in a competition before, but today I couldn't make it."

Despite her frustration with missing the trick she worked so hard on, Akama was relieved to achieve her dream of medalling at the Olympics at only 15 years old.

"I am very, very happy because my dream was to get a medal at the Paris Olympics," she said.

Leal was content with her bronze medal, enjoying the experience of Paris 2024 in comparison to Tokyo 2020 which took place amid the global COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, she was just 13 years old and the youngest Brazilian ever to participate in the Olympics.

"Now I know what the real Olympics are," she said. "There are so many Brazilian fans here. It's crazy."

Leal said she battled some nerves during the semi-final but settled in as the finals began.

"I did my best, I did what I could, and I'm really happy," Leal said. "In the semi-finals I was nervous, but in the finals I was home. I'm really, really happy."

Paris 2024 Olympics skateboarding: Women's street podium

Gold: Yoshizawa Coco, Japan

Silver: Liz Akama, Japan

Bronze: Rayssa Leal, Brazil