FILE PHOTO: Paris 2024 Olympics - Skateboarding - Women's Street Final - La Concorde 3, Paris, France - July 28, 2024. Coco Yoshizawa of Japan in action during the final. REUTERS/Angelika Warmuth/File Photo
PARIS (Reuters) - 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 US 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.
Fourteen-year-old Arisa Trew delivered a technical masterpiece on her final run to become Australia's youngest gold medallist, an impressive feat given the country's long and storied history at the Games.
Although defending champion Sakura Yosozumi of Japan failed to make the final, her compatriot Cocona Hiraki came through to win silver and Britain's Sky Brown took bronze.
Keegan Palmer's electrifying first run proved all the 21-year-old Australian would need to roll to a title defence a day after Trew's triumph.
Palmer beat his friend Tom Schaar of the U.S., and the pair who both live in San Diego said they were excited for the sport to have its homecoming at the Los Angeles Games in 2028.
Skaters competing in Paris ranged in age from 11 to 51 and its culture thrived despite the pressure of the Olympic spotlight as the athletes enthusiastically celebrated each other's accomplishments.
The U.S. will look to end their gold medal drought in LA as will Brazil, who leave Paris with two bronze medals.
(Reporting by Rory Carroll and Mimosa Spencer; Editing by Alison Williams)
