tokyo 2020 olympics

Nishiya, just 13, gives Japan sweep in street skateboarding

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46 Comments
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2 gold for skateboarding!!! Congratulations!!!

7 ( +11 / -4 )

Gold and bronze for Japan. Congratulations.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

ironic that a country that abhors street skateboarding has two gold medal and a bronze champs! congratulations to this awesome trio, believe in your dreams no matter what anyone/your country says.

13 ( +17 / -4 )

Congratulations Japan! Enjoying watching all the events on TV since last week.

-5 ( +5 / -10 )

She was incredible!!!! Now I hope she can have a great summer and her school hasn’t bogged her down with tons of summer homework!!!!

8 ( +12 / -4 )

I think the reason why Japanese skateboarders have an edge over other country's athletes is because they spend less time smoking herb and getting inked up and more time on training. IMHO

-19 ( +10 / -29 )

ironic that a country that abhors street skateboarding has two gold medal and a bronze champs! 

I wouldn’t say Japan “abhors” skating as much as certain parts of the US. There are sings that prohibit skating in some public roads and spaces, but the police (and Kens and Karens) are no where near as aggressive in harassing skaters.

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

Congratulations Japan!

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

The real highlight is Japan tie-ing Korea in archery in the semifinal, and only losing because Korean's team arrows are closer to the center. This is like the final coming in early because the Korean team is nearly unbeatable.

Congratulation Japan, you are VERY great this year.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

Hilarious seeing how just about everywhere in Japan is off limits to skateboarders.

5 ( +9 / -4 )

ironic that a country that abhors street skateboarding has two gold medal and a bronze champs! congratulations to this awesome trio, believe in your dreams no matter what anyone/your country says.

I think the majority of Japanese skaters don't have the luxury like the west to actually skate in the street for pure enjoyment and to further their skills for a few reasons. The amount of people, the (mostly) immaculate condition of their surroundings and the public's reaction to the degradation of it.

I'm torn over this though as a skater.

When you skate in the USA, UK, Europe, Australia etc., it is less frowned upon skating in the street with possible minor damage to actual property, and is somewhat turned a blind eye to, but when I see street skating in Japan, I can understand why the security guards chase them and put a stop to it. They just want to keep their area damage free and they actually have the view that their surroundings are important.

I guess people like Yuto and Momiji have had to earn their street skills in the skate parks in Japan, and with that have won Gold medals for Japan, but I wonder if part of them would love to be like their western counterparts and skate more of the real thing.

Congratulations to both of them for history in the making.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

....and Huston didn't win anything !

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

I think the reason why Japanese skateboarders have an edge over other country's athletes is because they spend less time smoking herb and getting inked up and more time on training. IMHO

Orrrrrrrr, looking at it logically, the more likely reason is that the Japanese are more acclimated to the unbearably hot and stiflingly humid weather.

3 ( +7 / -4 )

...and only losing because Korean's team arrows are closer to the center.

That's like saying, "the runner only lost because the other runner got to the finish line faster".

9 ( +11 / -2 )

sorry, but the fact that this is an Olympic sport is ridiculous - just my opinion.

-7 ( +6 / -13 )

Well done Momiji Nishiya, Rayssa Leal and Funa Nakayama.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

So, Korea was better then?

Japan lost by 0.14 cm. That's a hair slim margin which happened only as the wind in the final second shifted in Korea's favour. Korea was lucky.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

I guess people like Yuto and Momiji have had to earn their street skills in the skate parks in Japan, and with that have won Gold medals for Japan, but I wonder if part of them would love to be like their western counterparts and skate more of the real thing.

Maybe Japanese schools can do that?

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Fantastic performance by the two girls. Rayssa Leal was also completely stoked and did Brazil proud.

While this is called "street", as JCB says, this level of skateboarding is really only possible in dedicated parks. At this level, the competitors will also break a phenomenal amount of gear, way beyond what an ordinary unsponsored street skater in the West could afford. Twenty decks a year is not uncommon.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

So awesome to see such young talent shining in these chaotic times. Congratulations Nishiya! Congratulations Japan!

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

The age range of the final competitors stretched from 13 years old to 34 years old

Not many sports with top athletes have bodies of pubescent to middle age

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Who's Huston?

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Where are the skate parks in Japan?

I see plenty of golf courses but..,

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Hopefully we will see more skate parks built as a result.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Congrats to Japan on winning though it's rather ironic considering the country's aversion to the sport. Maybe these victories will help make skateboarding less of a "taboo" and result in more skateboard parks and spaces being built.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Thomas Goodtime

Korea is sekai ichii, to tie with them and losing by points is almost miraculous. In the final against Taiwan, they score a 60 set straight.

Japan archery team really is surprising this year.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Kids today....

Having fun and winning gold medals!

4 ( +5 / -1 )

I don't know about Nishiya Momiji, the girl, but on TV, they said Horigome Yuto lives in the U.S. and has been training there.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Wow! Just 13! Apparently Momoji has competed in the USA when she was 11 and has sponsors there. Interesting that there was no coverage or highlights of Naomi Osaka's second round win today on any of the 6pm TV news bulletins this evening.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Bi-racials are everywhere and they have been competing in the Olympics since decades ago. So, people don't have to bother about bi-racial japanese athlete.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Great job, Young People! - Don’t let others overshadow Your accomplishments.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

That was Legitness!

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

This is so awesome.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Congrats Japan.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

As more japanese and asian athletes win, the old geezers will learn.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

How do these groms flip and spin with the hair going all over. WOuld be blinded in the surf.

Being sponsored takes knowing someone.

Congrats kid. Long live and pros@er

0 ( +2 / -2 )

The broadcasters deliberately avoid replaying the bad falls and with some not wearing helmets, who's protecting these kids?

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Amazing! Imagine how good she’ll be in ten years.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Holy crap amazing!

Mizutani/Ito just won against China team and win Mixed Table Tennis Gold!

They couldn't win again Korea in archery but they beat China in table Tennis.

What is with Japan this year?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@Kumagaijin obviously, you don’t skate

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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