Yuto Horigome has always embraced the thrill of a last-minute comeback. Facing the risk of finishing off the podium after struggling with successive tricks on a scorching Monday afternoon, the 25-year-old emblem of Japanese skateboarding surged back in a stunning finale to defend his Olympic men’s street title, edging out the American duo of Jagger Eaton and Nyjah Huston, who claimed silver and bronze, respectively.
Under the relentless heat of a clear blue sky at the temporary La Concorde stadium, Horigome proved once again to be a master of clutch performances. He executed a flawless slide down the 10-stair round rail on his fifth and final attempt, clinching the gold position with a score just a tenth of a point ahead of Eaton, a bronze medalist from three years prior in Tokyo. His impressive score of 97.08 created a slight opening for both Americans, but each faltered on their last attempts, much to Horigome’s relief, as he became the first-ever double Olympic champion in the brief history of skateboarding as a medal sport.
In a gripping 102-minute contest celebrated as the finest men’s street final ever, the trio exchanged medal positions in front of a lively crowd of around 5,000 spectators, which included rapper Snoop Dogg, who had earlier enjoyed watching Novak Djokovic triumph over Rafael Nadal alongside Billie Jean King at Roland-Garros. The electric atmosphere was a stark contrast to the nearly vacant Ariake Urban Sports Park during Horigome’s first Olympic gold win three years ago.
“These Olympics, it was the best event [ever] and the level was probably the highest,” Horigome stated afterward via an interpreter. “Nyjah and Jagger, they’re always at the top. I wasn’t really sure if I could medal. I just didn’t want to have any regrets. I believed in that until the end.”
The 29-year-old Huston, a six-time world champion who surprisingly placed seventh at the Tokyo Games, seemed poised for gold redemption after his second run, where he skillfully navigated the course’s 18 features, skating to Dr Dre and Snoop’s 1999 hit “Still Dre.” He further solidified his lead during the tricks portion, achieving scores of 92.79 and 93.22 on his first two attempts until Eaton usurped the top spot with a nollie 270 slide in his fourth attempt, earning the highest individual score of the contest at that point with 95.25.
That’s when Horigome, who had stumbled on his second, third, and fourth tricks, summoned the kind of last-minute magic that has defined his career.
Horigame’s bid to defend his Olympic gold almost didn’t begin. He needed a podium finish in the final Olympic Qualifier Series (OQS) event last month in Budapest to secure his spot in the Paris competition, where he delivered an outstanding performance marked by a nollie 270 bluntslide down the big rail, recording the highest trick score in Olympic street qualifying history. With the stakes even higher on Monday, Horigame rose to the occasion once more.
“Honestly, after three years that felt like hell for me, I have stronger emotions tied to this gold medal than the one I earned in Tokyo,” Horigame reflected. “The reason is that I wasn’t sure if I would even make it to these Olympics. Until about a month ago, after the Olympic qualifier in China, I had nearly given up on qualifying for the Games.
“Then I learned there was another opportunity. I thought that even if I had a 1% chance of making it, I had to believe in that 1% chance. And today, I was able to maintain that belief until the very end.”
Eaton, a 23-year-old from Mesa, Arizona, maintained an impressive outlook despite narrowly missing gold. “Not only were some gnarly tricks executed, but the energy from the crowd and so many aspects brought us to life,” he remarked. “Turning that nervous energy into motivation is crucial. With everyone killing it, it truly felt like a group of friends enjoying an amazing skateboarding day. There was so much at stake, but it was incredibly fun. I felt thankful to be part of it.”
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Huston, a long-time superstar with 23 X Games medals, more than 5 million Instagram followers, a signature Nike shoe, and the highest prize money earnings in skateboard history, also expressed positivity despite missing a medal. An Olympic medal was the only accolade he hadn’t yet achieved, and the Laguna Beach native expressed joy despite failing to complete his last three tricks.
“I personally wish I could have landed that last trick or executed some additional tricks,” Huston shared. Despite his experience, he didn’t dismiss the possibility of competing in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, close to his hometown. “I was super excited to land my run though [scoring 93.37]. That was the most thrilled I’ve been in my life. I was pumped, bro.”
Horigome’s victory also marked another street double for Japan, coming less than 24 hours after his compatriot Coco Yoshizawa claimed victory in the women’s event. When asked about the key to Japan’s triumph in this sport, Horigome responded succinctly.
“It has been incredibly challenging to reach this level,” he stated. “The skating standards in Japan and across the globe have improved dramatically. At the elite level, I really had to push my limits. I had to possess faith in myself, which is likely what led to my success.”
