Skateboarding: Olympic Takeover

"Skateboarding at the Olympics" Good news or bad news?

Skateboarding officially became an Olympic discipline in 2021 at the Tokyo Olympics.

Skateboarding made history at the Olympic Games. Another step in the global popularization of this sport. A real feat for a sport that has too often been criticized.

However, this news doesn't please the entire skateboarding community. I'd even say it divides us.

On one hand, skateboarding's arrival at the Olympics is perceived as the ultimate, long-awaited sports recognition. On the other, riders particularly attached to the underground spirit and the freedom it entails aren't exactly thrilled by this introduction.

"Skateboarding at the Olympics" Who are the participants?

80 skaters are at the starting line, vying for an Olympic medal. Participants are equally divided: 40 men and 40 women, representing 26 nations.

The skateboarding category consists of the "Street" event and the "Bowl" event. That's 20 skaters per event and per gender.

For each event, nations cannot be represented by more than 3 participants. The top 2 skateboarding nations (USA and Brazil) are allowed the maximum number of participants, 12 skaters each. Japan, as the 3rd global skateboarding nation, is allowed 10 skaters, and France, being in the world's top 5, is allowed 5 skaters.

"Skateboarding at the Olympics" France is there!

   – In Bowl (Park):

– Vincent Matheron (men's)
– Madeleine Larcheron (women's)

   –  In Street:

– Aurélien Giraud (men's)
– Vincent Milou (men's)
– Charlotte Hym (women's)

"Skateboarding at the Olympics" How does it work?

Two events: Street and Park!

Two qualification phases with 20 riders. The top 8 go to the final.

Like major Bowl (Park) skateboarding competitions, each skater gets 3 runs of 40 seconds. The best run, scored out of 100, counts for the final ranking.

Also, like major Street skateboarding competitions, the event takes place in two parts:

– Part 1: 2 runs of 45 seconds. Skaters must land as many tricks as possible.

– Part 2: 5 "best trick" attempts. Skaters must land the best possible trick on a chosen obstacle.

The 4 best scores are counted for the ranking. Each run is scored out of 10, so the final score is out of 40.

How are scores awarded!

The jury scores complexity, amplitude, the authenticity of the tricks, the cleanliness of executed tricks, and the utilization of the entire skatepark.

For example: a fall or a hand touching the ground is penalized.

The jury's deliberation leaves a lot of room for subjectivity. A trick performed by two skaters in the same spot won't necessarily get the same score.

The Olympic Games

"Skateboarding"

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