Momiji Nishiya, 13, of Japan wins Tokyo Olympics women's street skateboarding gold

Nishiya finished ahead of Brazil's Rayssa Leal -- who at 13 years and 203 days could have become the youngest individual Olympic champion -- and Japan's Funa Nakayama, 16.

Momiji Nishiya of Team Japan poses with her gold medal during the Women's Street Final medal ceremony on day three of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Urban Sports Park.

Momiji Nishiya, the 13-year-old skateboarding sensation, became the youngest gold medallist from Japan as she won the women's street skateboarding event of the 2020 Olympics at the Ariake Urban Sports Park on Monday. The women's skateboard street podium averaged 14 years and 191 days, the youngest individual podium in the history of the Olympic Games.

 

Nishiya completed a Japanese sweep in the street competition after Yuto Horigome had won the first ever men's gold in the sport on Sunday.

A historic first on home soil!#JPN's Nishiya Momiji is the first women's Olympic #Skateboarding champion!@worldskatesb@Japan_Olympicpic.twitter.com/6W6ReQE3BS

— Olympics (@Olympics) July 26, 2021

 

Nishiya upset favourite Rayssa Leal of Brazil and teammate Aori Nishimura, the reigning world champion, in the final.

Nishiya took the gold after piling up big scores in the trick section, finishing with 15.26 points.

Leal, the 13-year-old Brazilian who impressed in the preliminary heats with a flawless run, couldn't repeat her show when it mattered most and was second with 14.64 points. Japan's Funa Nakayama bagged the bronze medal with 14.49 points.

It proved a struggle for Aori Nishimura who finished eighth.

The results:

1. Momiji Nishiya (Japan) (15.26 points), 2. Rayssa Leal (Brazil) (14.64), 3. Funa Nakayama (14.49).