Chloe Covell: Heartbreaking moment teenager, 14, is left in floods of tears as she fails in her quest to make history as Australia’s youngest-ever Olympic gold medallist

  • Chloe Covell was unable to make history at the Olympic Games 
  • The 14-year-old was aiming to become Australia’s youngest medallist 
  • But it all fell apart for the teenager in the final in Paris 

Australian Olympic history has eluded Chloe Covell, who finished out of the medals at the street skateboarding event in Paris.

The 14-year-old finished last in the medal round on Sunday at the Concorde skate park in central Paris and was in tears at one point as she fell repeatedly.

Japan’s Coco Yoshizawa won the gold medal with her total score of 272.75, beating compatriot Liz Akama’s 265.95.

Brazilian Rayssa Leal backed up from her Tokyo Olympics silver medal with a bronze in Paris, scoring 253.37.

At 14 years and 170 days, Covell would have become Australia’s youngest Olympic gold medallist had she won.

Sandra Morgan, who was 14 years old and 183 days when she was a member of the victorious 4x100m freestyle team at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, remains the youngest.

Covell, who had a finger splint on her left hand, had recovered from early struggles to qualify fourth-best on Sunday among eight finalists at La Concorde in central Paris.

But she was never in the hunt through the two runs and five rounds of tricks that decided the medals.

Chloe Covell was unable to realise her Olympics dream in Paris

The 14-year-old was aiming to become Australia's youngest-ever Olympic medallist

The 14-year-old was aiming to become Australia’s youngest-ever Olympic medallist

Covell fell in both of her runs and was unable to land two of her best tricks

Covell fell in both of her runs and was unable to land two of her best tricks

After conceding her third trick, the Aussie ran to her father and was in floods of tears as her campaign unraveled. 

She needed to smash her final two attempts in order to remain in the running, but again crashed to the concrete before being hugged by her competitors after realising that her Olympics dream was over. 

Covell made a promising start with her first run, but did not nail any of her five tricks and finished on 70.33.

There had been plenty of focus on Covell, given her shot at history in Paris.

Covell secured her finals berth with an impressive trick after two failed attempts in qualifying. It proved the highlight of her rough day at the skate park.

Australians Liv Lovelace and Haylie Powell both missed out on spots in the final.

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