13-year-old Japan skateboard sensation cools Olympic talk after world title

In British news they were talking only about half british Sky Brown

So it's not just Japan who loves to talk about successful halfu!

There were four Japanese in the top 10, including a one-two.

I don't recall this strength in depth of the Japanese skateboarders being mentioned at all a couple of months ago when we were told Sky Brown had chosen to represent the UK, not Japan. It was presented as a positive choice in keeping with the Youtuber/reality tv persona she has.

Ah, this explains why all my bids for tickets to the skateboarding events at the olympics fell through. Figured its a minor sport, should only be a few skater diehards wanting to watch it; but no, its gonna be full of people who have no idea what an ollie is, but are desperate to hear kimigayo being sung on the podium.

I wondered why sky brown chose the UK but now I understand.

So many talented Japanese skateboarders

Amazing skill and acrobatics! I doubt we could see any young people in the world more talented than Japanese kids on skateboards. It is almost a national sport now like Judo! Guaranteed Golds!

Don't you have to at least be 15 to compete in the Olympics? If Okamoto is only 13 now, won't she be too young?

Don't you have to at least be 15 to compete in the Olympics? If Okamoto is only 13 now, won't she be too young?

According to what I researched, there's no set minimum any longer, but it is set by each individual sports federation. So I assume that whoever is running skateboarding has a lower age than gymnastics, swimming, or other sports that do, I believe, use 15 or 16 as the guideline.

https://secure.registration.olympic.org/en/faq/category/detail/11