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Keegan Palmer topped the qualifiers in skateboarding at the Paris Olympics, emerging as the leader from the prelims. His impressive performance sets him up as a strong contender for the upcoming finals.

In the two Olympic finals for men's skateboard park, Australia’s Keegan Palmer remains the reigning champion. With a powerful performance, Palmer retained his title by delivering a standout first run scoring 93.11. American skater Tom Schaar secured the silver medal with a solid second run of 92.23, despite strong performances across all three of his runs. Brazil's Augusto Akio clinched the bronze with a final run of 91.85, narrowly edging out his compatriot Pedro Barros.

Palmer celebrated his victory by enthusiastically banging his board on the ground. In a joyous display of camaraderie, Barros and Tate Carew rushed over to lift Palmer onto their shoulders, marking a memorable moment of triumph and unity.



Just as we thought, no skater could surpass Palmer's big score of 93.78 in prelims. The Tokyo 2020 gold medallist looks in fine form, and that must be a scary proposition for his competitors. Tom Schaar (USA) was next best with a score of 92.05, while 2023 world champion Gavin Bottger (USA) stunningly failed to make the cut, such was the quality of the competition. 

A special shout-out must go to Andy MacDonald (GBR), who, at 51, was the oldest competitor in the field. Though he failed to progress, his runs drew applause from skateboard legend Tony Hawk, and MacDonald was all smiles as he finished his final run, telling his kids through the camera, "Your dad's on the Olympics!".

Arista, Australia's sensation

Australian phenom Arisa Trew produced a near-perfect third-run score to claim the women's park skateboarding gold medal at Paris 2024 on Tuesday (6 August). The 14-year-old relegated Tokyo 2020 silver medallist Hiraki Cocona of Japan from first place into second place in the standings after dropping into the bowl for the third and final time.

Trew, wearing her trademark pink helmet, beamed as the winning score of 93.18 flashed onto the scoreboard before making a heart shape with her hands.

World No.1 Cocona had to be content with the silver medal courtesy of her third-run score of 92.63, which pushed Sky Brown (92.31) of Great Britain back into bronze after a brief stay in second position for a repeat of their 2-3 podium finish from three years ago.



Trew fell on her first run but made up for the slip-up on the second, moving into third place with a score of 90.11 heading into the deciding run. She then added a sprinkling of magic on her third attempt, producing an arsenal of tricks including 540s to send her to the top. Brown then improved her score for a brief stay in second position before Hiraki settled the podium positions with her run.

Trew came into Paris 2024 among the favourites after winning the Olympic Qualifier Series events in Shanghai and Budapest. She announced herself on the global scene in 2023 becoming the first female athlete to land a 720 trick – which includes two mid-air rotations – in a competition when she was just 13. Trew added to her growing legend this year when she landed the first-ever female 900 which consists of two-and-a-half rotations.

Medal despite injury

Teenager Sky Brown wins Olympic skateboarding bronze despite injury, nothing new for her. Aged 11 she survived a near fatal skateboarding crash; at 12 she fractured her skull; at 13 she won bronze at Tokyo; at 15 she tore her knee and at 16, little more than a week after dislocating her shoulder – Sky Brown took bronze again in the park skateboarding at Paris.

Sky Brown took bronze in Paris 2024. GETTY IMAGES
Sky Brown took bronze in Paris 2024. GETTY IMAGES

Brown and the 15-year-old Japanese skater Cocona Hiraki became the youngest athletes to win a medal at two Olympics in the park event at La Concorde on Tuesday, after being narrowly beaten by the 14-year-old Australian Arisa Trew to the gold.

“It was a little scary falling on my shoulders going to my last run, and then going to the final,” said Brown after the competition. “I had to send it. But I did fight through it, and gave it my best.”