Paris 2024 Olympics - Skateboarding - Women's Park Victory Ceremony - La Concorde 4, Paris, France - August 06, 2024. Gold medallist Arisa Trew of Australia celebrates on the podium. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares
PARIS (Reuters) - Australia announced itself as a skateboarding powerhouse at the Paris Games this week with gold medallists Arisa Trew and Keegan Palmer the undisputed rulers of the park event.
Trew, 14, became the first Australian woman to win an Olympic skateboarding medal with an aggressive and technically flawless run in the women's final on Tuesday.
Palmer's huge air and deep bag of tricks led him to a title defence a day later at an overflowing stadium at La Concorde.
"We're the king and queen of skateboarding park right now," Palmer told reporters after his triumph.
"We both grew up in the same town, so Gold Coast is holding it down right now."
Palmer said he learned to skate at the Eleanora skate park, famous for having the first full pipe in Australia, noting that was where his teammate Trew had done most of her skating.
"It's crazy," he said.
Asked if his teammate's victory on Tuesday was an inspiration for his win on Wednesday, he left no doubt.
"Oh, one hundred percent," he said.
Teammate Keefer Wilson, who made it to the final, said he was astounded by the success of his country.
"Just seeing how far it has come is insane, Arisa getting the gold as well and then Keegan bringing it home, it’s just amazing."
Asked about Australia's rise, skateboarding pioneer Tony Hawk said it was nothing new.
"I have always thought of the skaters from Australia as some of the best," the American said. "I think it's just more a general audience acknowledgement."
Australia had nine competitors in skateboarding at the Paris Olympics, which included men's and women's park and street competitions, fewer than the United States and Brazil, who each sent 12 athletes.
(Reporting by Rory Carroll in Paris; editing by Clare Fallon)
