Tokyo Olympics Skateboarding Champ Struggles in Paris Games Qualifiers.
Yuto Horigome, the Tokyo Olympics men’s street skateboarding champion, faced a significant setback on Thursday as he exited early during a qualifying series event in Shanghai, impacting his chances of competing in the upcoming Paris Games this summer.
Despite landing all his tricks in his first run, Horigome secured 17th place in the preliminary round in Shanghai with 81.88 points, narrowly missing the cut for the 16-skater semifinal round by a mere 0.07 points.
Expressing disappointment, the 25-year-old athlete acknowledged his subpar performance, stating, “I couldn’t skate all that well and didn’t achieve the score I had hoped for." The pressure intensified as he faltered in his second attempt, recording a score of 44.03 after an early mistake hindered his ability to showcase his best skill.
Among his Japanese peers, Kairi Netsuke led the preliminary round with 90.41 points, while world champion Sora Shirai claimed the fourth spot and 14-year-old Ginwoo Onodera secured eighth place, advancing to the subsequent round.
Despite previous successes in other competitions, Horigome’s highest achievement in the Olympic qualifying events has been a third-place finish. With only one qualifying event left in Budapest in June, he aimed to elevate his performance but now faces a greater gap from his competitors.
In light of the challenge ahead, Horigome expressed determination, stating, “I’m in a really tough situation but will do my best" as he prepares for the upcoming trials.