Teenage takeover! Japan’s Momiji Nishiya, just 13, clinches the gold medal in the women’s skateboarding street finals… with Brazil’s own trick sensation Rayssa Leal taking silver at the same age to make up a youthful podium in Tokyo
Japan’s Momiji Nishiya has become an Olympic champion aged just 13 after taking the gold medal in women’s street skateboarding.
Nishiya was unable to contain her emotions after her final audacious trick saw her win the title, with the average age of the podium incredibly just 13.5.
Brazil’s own sensation Rayssa Leal clinched silver at the same age, meanwhile, marking an incredible set of results for the youngsters in the relentless Tokyo heat.
Japan skateboarding sensation Momiji Nishiya has become an Olympic champion aged just 13
Nishiya landed an audacious final trick in Tokyo and won the title ahead of the impressive field
All eyes were set on the skateboarding starlets at Ariake Urban Sports Park, with Leal looking to become the youngest gold medal winner at the Summer Games.
The event saw the talented field take to a mazy course of stairs, rails and ramps, and the athletes performed two 45-second runs and five single tricks.
Each of the tricks were then judged by a panel on a 10-point scale with the four best scores added together, and in the end it was home favourite Nishiya who triumphed.
Rayssa Leal of Brazil, also aged 13, clinched the silver medal after tricking beyond her rivals
Leal looked on course to win but her fall at the final trick saw home favourite Nishiya triumph
Funa Nakayama, also of Japan, finished up with the bronze, remarkably at just 16 years of age.
Team USA’s Alexis Sablone looked on course to end up on the podium with two tricks remaining, but she settled for fourth after tumbling on both attempts.
An enthralling final round of tricks saw Leal fall in her bid to re-take the gold, and Nishiya capitalised in outrageous fashion with a jaw-dropping lip trick.
Funa Nakayama took the bronze medal to round off an incredible youthful podium at the event
The pressure was then piled on Nakayama, and when she failed to pull off her own audacious move, Nishiya was officially crowned as the champion.
Her victory handed Japan a clean sweep of golds at the street event following on from Yuto Horigome’s glory at the men’s event yesterday.
Leal’s silver was Brazil’s second, with compatriot Kelvin Hoefler also finishing as the runner-up behind Horigome.