PARIS : Japan and Australia remain the only countries to have won Olympic titles in skateboarding after they backed up their strong showings in Tokyo with more dominance in Paris while the U.S.
and Brazil continue to knock at the golden door. Japan's 14-year-old sensation Coco Yoshizawa ollied her way to the top of the women's street podium to kick off the sport's second turn on the Olympic stage, where boisterous crowds packed the stands at the historic Place de la Concorde for every session.
Japan grabbed even more gold when Yuto Horigome retained his title in men's street the next day in a thriller that came down to his final trick - a flawless slide down the 10-stair round rail.Horigome edged American Jagger Eaton, who upgraded his bronze from Tokyo to silver, while his compatriot Nyjah Huston, one of the best-known athletes in the sport, said he felt blue after settling for bronze.
While the street events belonged to the Japanese, it was the Australians who shone when the skaters dropped into the bowl for the park events.