After making its debut at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, skateboarding will return for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Skateboarding, which originated in the 1950s in the United States, became part of the culture during the 1980s. underground alternative around values of freedom and rebellion. It was only at the beginning of the 2000s that the practice of this discipline became more widespread and developed. Considered an extreme sport, this discipline is found in particular in the X Games competition. In 2024, at the Paris Olympic Games, skateboarding returns as an additional sport.
A modern discipline with spectacular events
In order to host the skateboarding events, the city of Paris will deploy a real urban park on Place de la Concorde. Skateboarding is divided into two separate single-sex events: the Park event and the Street event. These will take place on July 27 and 28, then August 6 and 7. The two events are made up of two rounds, a first qualifying round, then a final.
The Park takes place in a field combining bowls and different curves. The athletes are judged on three passages of forty-five seconds, the best passage is then retained. The height and speed of performing figures during jumps and the participants’ ability to use the available surface are evaluated. Regarding Street, this event takes place in a setting reproducing different street elements. Skateboarders must perform a series of tricks, and are also judged on their ability to master their board during the two forty-five-second runs.
A real chance of a medal for the French team
Within the two skateboarding events, France has young experienced skateboarders. In Street among women, the French neuroscientist, Charlotte Hym, after winning the FISE in 2022, finished 17th at the skateboard world championships in 2023 in Sharjah (United Arab Emirates). While in the men’s Street category, the native of Lyon, Aurélien Giraud, won these world championships. He also finished 6th at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021. The French team is also well equipped for the Park.
The captain of the French skateboarding delegation at the Tokyo Olympics, Vincent Matheron, who finished 7th, after a gold medal at the X Games in Los Angeles, finished 16th at the 2023 world championships, allowing him to qualify for the Olympic Games. The Marseillais had been praised by the famous Tony Hawk. “ Vincent Matheron is someone unique, who has his own style, and who doesn’t try to align himself with the stuff that’s cool at the moment. He is really talented and he has a very good personality », confided the skateboard star to the Red Bull microphone.
The post Paris 2024: Skateboarding, from the street to the medals first appeared on SPORTMAG.
The article Paris 2024: Skateboarding, from the streets to medals appeared first on SPORTMAG.
