Yosozumi wins another skateboarding gold for Japan

The real reason Sky Brown chose to skate for the GB Team!

Congrats to the winner, but I feel sad for Okamoto, her run was very high-stake and if successful, would have won Gold.

I wish skateboarding will not become popular. Skateboarding is noisy, disrupting traffic and endangering pedestrians.

Do these games really mean anything?

Up to now approximate 710 medals have been won.

The top 10 countries all basically rich or powerful have taken 426 medals the next 10 countries again rich or powerful for the most part took 144.

So of the 710 medals to date 567 were given to just 20 countries out if 200 countries participating.

We could have just had 30 countries show up and not much would have changed

Congrats to all the medal winners but feel there must be an age cap in the olympics,

12, 13 year old just too young to be competing in the olympics. what next kids in diapers

probably taking part in a crawling race. Sad, to see the over commercialisation of the olympics.

vanityofvanitiesToday  02:26 pm JST

I wish skateboarding will not become popular. Skateboarding is noisy, disrupting traffic and endangering pedestrians.

Well you're a real killjoy, aren't you.

A lot of older competitors in other more established sports could, and should, learn a lot from these young girls on how to be exemplary athletes, win or lose. I don't think I've ever seen such an amicable atmosphere between competitors in my life.

The Australian and American lifting a tearful Okamoto onto their shoulders, to show appreciation for her valiant attempt at gold was, more than literally, uplifting.

Managed to catch about 15 minutes of it, including Yosozumi's 60-point run. I think the oldest of the competitors I saw was about 19. I don't really understand the scoring system but it was a good watch.

Okamoto didn't win any medals. Kawaii so.

Downvotes are out in force in this topic!

I can't say I understood the scoring. I would have ignored Okamoto falling with one second to go and given her gold or silver. I also thought Sky Brown in third did a much more dynamic run than Hiraki the silver medalist. Hiraki was grind heavy and lacked air.

If this is all perfectly normal skateboard scoring, I would question why Okamoto's coach told her to do a high risk trick with one second to go after nailing the previous 44 seconds with the smoothest and fastest skating on view. It was okay to do it once, but she came back and did exactly the same thing again.

Don’t pre-adolescents have some physical benefits in this sport over those that have already reached puberty?

Especially with girls and their hip structures which effects balance movements?

Do these games really mean anything?

Up to now approximate 710 medals have been won.

The top 10 countries all basically rich or powerful have taken 426 medals the next 10 countries again rich or powerful for the most part took 144.

So of the 710 medals to date 567 were given to just 20 countries out if 200 countries participating.

We could have just had 30 countries show up and not much would have changed

> Congrats to all the medal winners but feel there must be an age cap in the olympics, 

12, 13 year old just too young to be competing in the olympics. what next kids in diapers

probably taking part in a crawling race. Sad, to see the over commercialisation of the olympics.

Two of the best comments of the year! The Olympics was a prestigious thing but now with so many unnecessary games it’s become a circus!

This is just my opinion but kids winning gold medals in Olympics just brings down the integrity and value of medals! Just reflects that even kids can win Olympic medals so it’s not a big thing! Maybe there should be a different Olympics called the Children’s Olympics or something with many games / matches for same age contenders! As someone mentioned above the prestigious Olympics has become a circus!

Why the hell is this (together with surfin) even an Olympic sport? (and I surf myself, still...)

Do these games really mean anything?

I wonder how much a gold medal costs in terms of facilities and training? Considering this it's good Japan has got plenty of medals as they've spent a fortune.

So of the 710 medals to date 567 were given to just 20 countries out if 200 countries participating.

We could have just had 30 countries show up and not much would have changed

you are right, but it has always been like that.

Sports development is linked to financial power and the size of the population.

The richer a country, the more it tends to have leisures and the time for sports. And with a decent population, find the powerful athletes.

Swimming, running can be done everywhere, but a country will still need the infrastructure, and some money for the athletes to develop and train.

A rich but small country will never make it.

didou

Cuba is small and it's not rich but it's having more medals than some rich countries.

It's about training and dedication.

The real reason Sky Brown chose to skate for the GB Team!

Actually she preferred the British Skateboarding Association for their more relaxed approach. "No pressure, just have fun". I don't think a Japanese child has ever been told that before.

drluciferToday  02:36 pm JST ....feel there must be an age cap in the olympics,

12, 13 year old just too young to be competing in the olympics. what next kids in diapers

You also have to remember, until the 90s, the Olympics were only for amateurs which made the average for the Games much younger. Now we have athletes who are much older. I don't have a problem with skateboarders being young teens if they're the best at what they do.

Congratulations to all the athletes. Sky Brown did well, too. Bronze. Great going!

Congrats to the winner, loved the obvious joy in the competitors. But...

Events that rely exclusively on judges' scoring should not be in the Olympics.

Events with pro leagues (baseball, basketball etc) should not be in the Olympics

Minimum age of 18 for all competitors, please.

It is all getting a touch ridiculous. And what 'sports' are coming in Paris- breakdancing?

AttilathehungryToday  04:24 pm JST

Minimum age of 18 for all competitors, please.

It is all getting a touch ridiculous. And what 'sports' are coming in Paris- breakdancing?

0( +0 / -0 )

I say give the youth of today the opportunity: They have behaved and handled themselves so much better than many of their senior peers in these games, especially in the new wave of sports like this (skateboarding). And yes, they certainly are sports.

My guess for Paris 2024, 'Gesticulatory Complaining': An assured home gold, if these games are any kind of indication.

Japan wanted to adopt baseball and softball.

Japan did not want to adopt skateboarding.

In the first place, most Japanese people don't know that there are many good skateboarders in Japan.

I hope my kid gets into skateboarding or something...anything...besides soccer and baseball.

This is just my opinion but kids winning gold medals in Olympics just brings down the integrity and value of medals! Just reflects that even kids can win Olympic medals so it’s not a big thing! Maybe there should be a different Olympics called the Children’s Olympics or something

The fact that you can't beat a child at an athletic event says nothing about the competitors themseleves. It is just sour grapes from those not capable enough to best them.

Minimum age of 18 for all competitors, please.

It is all getting a touch ridiculous. And what 'sports' are coming in Paris- breakdancing?

What's so special about 18? Are you looking for a way to exclude the best competitors? And are you also seeking a way so that some of the world's greatest athletes are nearly 22 before they can compete at their first Olympics?

Why the hell is this (together with surfin) even an Olympic sport? (and I surf myself, still...)

I think the goal is appealing to the younger generation tired of the same old sports. This is why BMX and sports climbing were also added as well as drum roll please.........breakdancing in 2024.

I think the goal is appealing to the younger generation tired of the same old sports.

Given that events like synchronised swimming and softball are in the Olympics, I can hardly see why anyone can object to skateboarding. And many established events, such as gymnastics and diving are judged on skill and artistic quality. There is no objective difference between them and skateboarding.

And as for new events, snowboarding was added to the winter Olympics, the snow equivalent of the skateboard.

Stoked to see Brown get the Bronze for the UK. Met her here in Miyazaki when she was about 10 years old. We were surfing and she was totally into that as well.

Ah-so. Admittedly 18 is an arbitrary age, as are most age limits. Just don't think kids should be so pressured to grow up too fast, possibly hurt themselves training, and suffer later on. For girls especially this seems to be the trend- get them into training before puberty hits because once they start to 'blossom' into womanhood they will be at a competitive disadvantage. I think it is cruel and exploitative. We don't let kids that age drive cars or smoke, do we?

Many of the japanese skaters are groomed into skateboarding by their parents as soon as they can walk as toddlers or super young. It's not like they chose to do this, they were programmed to be this good.

Anyone can achieve this if this is done to them, which is why I find it boring to watch the japanese skaters in particular.

Japanese news showed pictures of the three girls together, but did not even mention Sky brown, nor that she was Japanese. Just talked about Japan being 1 and 2. I feel sorry for her family and the people in her hometown in Japan. Just because she is representing another country.. very sad.

I don't mean to be a stick-in-the-mud purist, but I think sports requiring a vehicle, another animal, or a team should be excluded from the Olympics.

There’s room for ALL sports, …

as long as the IOC comes to a host city FULLY-funding all venues & concessions with their own money.

Let them raise the funds for a host city instead of the citizen & resident taxpayers that can’t profit in any way from it.

@Hara, don't make everything political. The girls were having fun and treated each other very well. As you said, it's japanese news. Of course they focus on those who represent their countries. Since when are we oblige to do free marketing for Britain?

Why should you feel sorry when there isn't even a issue? Did Sky Brown said anything about needing this extra attention? She was happy for skating, but you had to find a issue when there wasn't any. When does it ever matter where she came from and who she is? Not to mention, more than half of the athletes of japan who gotten a medal didn't even made it on the news or even gotten much coverage.

“Congratulations!” to the young skaters!

In regards to new vs classic sports, on a much larger scale and show of ‘true strength’, how about ‘tossing the caber’ as an additional field sport? - That’ll separate ‘the men’ from the boys!

I know skateboarding is immensely popular and requires a great deal of physical strength and skill but I found it incredibly boring to watch. Same with the climbing events.

"Japanese news showed pictures of the three girls together, but did not even mention Sky brown, nor that she was Japanese."

Well,

Just check the BBC Sports.

It is as if Sky was the only competitor.

Everyone scratches his or her own back first, not just Japan.

I wonder how much a gold medal costs in terms of facilities and training?

-

Many of the japanese skaters are groomed into skateboarding by their parents... they were programmed to be this good.

Actually, the story of Yosozumi's training and how a local sake brewery in her hometown heard how she was struggling for training access, so the owner then built a skate park for her in an old warehouse and then gave her free access... its pretty heartwarming.

Read the full story in English here:

https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14410823

Congrats to Sakura, Koko & Sky.

For me - and many I guess Misugu Okamoto was the standout. I guess that's why she's world #1.

The flair, flow, speed, air, aggressiveness just oozed. Sky also has that in spades.

With a second to go in her last run Misugu didn't need to try a kick flip as she already scored well.

But that's sport. A miss here or there and you're down and out.

Peeping_TomToday  08:09 pm JST

Just check the BBC Sports.

It is as if Sky was the only competitor.

Everyone scratches his or her own back first, not just Japan.

Funny that. I did watch it live on the BBC, and after it had finished they showed all the medallists top runs again and discussed them; ALL the medallists.

I think we all know, reading your posts, you love Japan. But you don't live here, as many more informed posters do.

NHK practically blanked Sky, as if she were a blot on Japan's copybook, I presume by representing another country.

Didn't see that king of antipathy on the BBC.

Kind of apathy...

Funny that. I did watch it live on the BBC, and after it had finished they showed all the medallists top runs again and discussed them; ALL the medallists.

The BBC is pretty good for that.

I think we all know, reading your posts, you love Japan. But you don’t live here, as many more informed posters do

He doesn’t speak or understand Japanese to any level either. It would be difficult for him to understand anything from the Japanese media.

He doesn’t let that put him off though. Determined. Ill-informed, but determined.

Everyone here, like @plasticmonkey 7:34pm, is entitled to their opinion and whether they endorse ‘modern’ sports like skateboarding, or not. They’re Games, after all.

By some standards, throwing the discus, putting a shot, hurling a hammer or tossing the javelin, seems like being ‘a stick in the mud’ for so-called impracticalt ‘traditional’ field sports.

- “I don't mean to be a stick-in-the-mud purist, but I think sports requiring a vehicle, another animal, or a team should be excluded from the Olympics.” -

The possible ‘grooming’ rhetoric regarding the alleged ‘wisdom’ of young minds in some of these posts may now leave many here rightfully ‘apprehensive’ and reasonably ‘questioning’ the influence over and future involvement of pre-pubescent teens physically interacting with adults in sports:

- “What an amazing girls !!. Why so much hateful comments from so many supposedly grown up people who feel jealous that some children are achieving what many adults will never achieve in their lives?..

I am so happy for all the young people there, showing bravery, courage and sportsmanship, giving to the whole world a lesson on how things should made. Let's learn from all of them, they are better than us...” -

*Why??, because they like it.. 21 century my friend, Cut the bad vibes, live and let live !!..*

"The youngest Olympic athlete in modern games history to win a medal was Dimitrios Loundras, a 10-year-old Greek gymnast who helped his team win a bronze medal in team uneven bars at the Athens Summer Games in 1896"..

*How about: Receiving an olyimpic lesson in bravery and courage from some good teenagers ??..*

*It was not an initiative of Japan, it was because the IOC wanted to integrate these sports to increase the popularity of the Olympics in youth people..*

*But if it makes you happy** …*

On second thought, perhaps there should be a minimum age limit?

Some sports have age limits, for example, skaters and gymnasts have to be 16+. Not sure why this is but shouldn't it be the best regardless of age?

"Funny that. I did watch it live on the BBC, and after it had finished they showed all the medallists top runs again and discussed them; ALL the medallists."

Did I say BBC, as in TV?

BBC Sports is online; check it.

"He doesn’t speak or understand Japanese to any level either. It would be difficult for him to understand anything from the Japanese media."

I certainly don't need to pretend to be Japanese, (unlike some here).

There's something called NHK World.

All in engrish. As if you were watching TV in Tokyo.

Ever heard of it?

Sky Brown stole the show at the press conference......

How to turn bronze into gold.......

Sky Brown 'so happy' to win bronze and become Team GB's youngest Olympic medalist

https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/video/sky-brown-happy-win-bronze-065047322.html

!3 years old a PR work of art.

Sky Brown a bronze medalist, that's third place......

Now view this....watch closely the fact that the gold and sliver medalists could not understand a word that Sky Brown was uttering.

With the fact that the US spent a colossal amount on broadcasting rights, the result made the both Japanese modelists look well, a tad like a pair granite statues.

Team GB's youngest Olympic medalist Sky Brown bags bronze in skateboarding.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXS8IaKPhrc

I don't mean to be a stick-in-the-mud purist, but I think sports requiring a vehicle, another animal, or a team should be excluded from the Olympics.

Yes! Purism! The Maiden Aunt of ANY Human activity...didn't the ancient Greeks also compete naked [can I say 'naked' here?]? Um...

Some sports have age limits, for example, skaters and gymnasts have to be 16+. Not sure why this is but shouldn't it be the best regardless of age?

Interesting question...Anyone?

Some interesting comments today but a whole lot of nationalistic bellyaching also. Whatever 'fairness' may have been missing, those folks who dreamed and worked as hard and as brutally self-denying as Humans can to get to these Olympics and were excluded by COVID, that's a sadness we so easily overlook... and as we celebrate the successes of these athletes, we might take a moment to mourn the crushed dreams which Nature and Human hubris have dealt as well. And regarding "Sport", the best 'sport' we have seen is two competitors 'sharing' their success and the camaraderie of the pubescent skateboarders and their obvious joy in the sport itself, win or lose...THAT'S 'purism'.

Peeping_TomToday  10:55 pm JST

"Funny that. I did watch it live on the BBC, and after it had finished they showed all the medallists top runs again and discussed them; ALL the medallists."

Did I say BBC, as in TV?

BBC i-player is also online, on bbc.co.uk; the clue's in the name really 'UK'- news for British people. Naturally they focus on Sky's bronze medal. But they still had the courtesy to report on Japan's Gold and silver skateboarding medals, as they did with Japan's previous two skateboarding gold medals even without any Brits winning medals.

BBC Sports is online; check it.

Like this?

"Tokyo Olympics: Yosozumi and 12-year-old Hiraki win gold and silver"

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/58082653

The live reporting gave a plethora of information in their running commentary on the skateboarders competing in the final.

I never see hide nor hair of the UK's gold medal winners on NHK.

I certainly don't need to pretend to be Japanese, (unlike some here).

There's something called NHK World.

All in engrish. As if you were watching TV in Tokyo.

I must admit, you caught me off guard there. I never really believed anybody could seriously watch NHK world for news. Thanks for the chuckles.

Ever heard of it?

Oh I think we all know only too well about NHK world. Still they gave skateboarding just over a minute, and made sure they used young Sky to help vindicate the games.

Congratulations to Sakura Yosozumi.

congratulations!!

The amount of negative feedback on a positive story.

They don't like it when Japan wins!!!

They only like it when Japan loses!