The top 10 Olympic Skateboarders of All Time

By Jayson Panganiban July 25, 2024 10:24

Photo by AZMI ATHNI

Making its Olympic debut in Tokyo 2020, skateboarding has enthralled spectators across the globe. Over the years, skating has combined athleticism, creativity, and youthful energy to create worlds new in complexity. Top skateboarders showcased at events around the planet are modern-day superstars.

In this expansive piece, let's turn back the clock as we analyze and recount the careers of these ten Olympic skateboarding legends. These athletes are not just icons for the sport we love but have introduced skateboarding to a mainstream audience and fueled generations of skaters globally.

1. Yuto Horigome (Japan)

Olympic Years: 2020, 2024
Widely known for being a 2020 Tokyo Olympics Gold Medalist in Men's Street.
Olympic Skateboarding debuts: 3-time X Games gold medalist

This year, Yuto Horigome became the undeniable face of Olympic skateboarding. The Japanese wunderkind won the inaugural Olympic gold in men's street at the 2020 Tokyo Games. Horigome's technical skills, creativity, and consistency in high-tension moments have cemented him as the dominant figure in skateboarding.

2. Momiji Nishiya (Japan)

Olympic Years: 2020, 2024
2020 Tokyo Olympics Women's Street Gold Medal
The 13-year-old Olympic skateboarding champion
2-time X Games gold medalist

The 13-year-old skater sits atop the world of women's skateboarding. She became the youngest Olympic gold medalist in skateboarding history when she won the women's street event at 13 years of age during that year, competing under Australia. UI Nishiya's technical mastery, brave demeanor, and youthful spirit have turned her into a sensation across the globe, with young skaters looking up to this young prodigy.

3. Keegan Palmer (Australia)

Olympic Years: 2020, 2024
Gold Medal: Men's Park, 2020 Tokyo Olympics
Eighteen years old (youngest Olympic gold medalist in skateboarding).
2x World Skateboarding Championships Gold Medal Winner

The Australian phenom was 18 when he became the youngest Olympic gold medalist in skateboarding during the men's park event of the 2020 Tokyo Games. A highly technical player with creativity and athleticism to match, Palmer has now earned his place on the international stage.

4. Sakura Yosozumi (Japan)

Olympic Years: 2020, 2024
Park - Women's Gold 2020 Tokyo Olympics
2-time X Games gold medalist
3-time World Skateboarding Champion

Sakura Yosozumi embodies style and power on the women's park skateboarding side. A Japanese prodigy on the biggest stage of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she took home a gold medal in Women's Park. Her blend of technical skill, creativity, and raw athleticism has enabled Yosozumi to rule in a changing sport, powering through a generational reset.

5. Jagger Eaton (United States)

Olympic Years: 2020, 2024
2020 Tokyo Olympics - Bronze Medal, Men's Street
2-time X Games gold medalist
Gold medalist - two-time World Skateboarding Championships

Jagger Eaton personifies the American skateboarding ethos. The Arizona native made his international debut at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, winning bronze in the men's street event. Eaton is a well-rounded technical skater with no shortage of creativity and grit, which makes him one to beat on the world stage.

6. Rayssa Leal (Brazil)

Olympic Years: 2020, 2024
Notable Achievements: 2020 Tokyo Olympics - Silver Women's Street
Youngest Olympic medallist in skateboarding aged 13
3-time X Games gold medalist

The emergence of Rayssa Leal as the face of women's street skateboarding has been spectacular. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she made history as one of the youngest Olympic medalists in skateboarding ever, at just 13 years old, to win a silver medal for women's street skateboarding. Leal has been successful in melting hearts all around the globe with her talent, imagination, and pure, youthful exuberance.

7. Cory Juneau (United States)

Olympic Years: 2020, 2024
Notable Achievements: Bronze Men's Park (2020 Tokyo Olympics)
2-time X Games gold medalist
Winner of two World Skateboarding Championships Gold Medals

A San Diego native, Juneau captured the bronze medal in the men's park event during last year's 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Juneau has proven to be a force within the international skateboarding circuit through his technical prowess, creativity, and relentless mentality.

8. Sky Brown (Great Britain)

Olympic Years: 2020, 2024
Notable Achievements: Bronze, Women's Park - 2020 Tokyo Olympics
Have an Olympic Skateboarding Medal Before the Age of 13
2-time X Games gold medalist

Sky Brown's unstoppable journey to the summit of women's park skateboarding has been incredible. The British prodigy made Olympic history in the 2020 Tokyo Games, becoming the youngest-ever skateboarding medalist after taking women's park bronze at age 13. It has been easy for figure skating fans to fall in love with Brown, whose playfulness and technical prowess are a winning combination that inspires skaters everywhere.

9. Kelvin Hoefler (Brazil)

Olympic Years: 2020, 2024
Notable Achievements: 2nd Men's Street, 2020 Tokyo Olympics
3-time X Games gold medalist
Four-time World Skateboarding Championships gold medalist

Kelvin Hoefler is the personification of everything genuine about Brazilian skateboarding. The São Paulo native put himself on the map worldwide, competing at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics when he won silver in men's street. This guy combines talent with creative madness and a pure gift for skateboarding, making him present in the international skateboard circuit.

10. Cocona Hiraki (Japan)

Olympic Years: 2020, 2024
Notable Achievements: Tokyo Olympics 2020: Silver, Women's Park
At 12, she was the youngest Olympic medalist in skateboarding history.
2-time X Games gold medalist

Cocona Hiraki's arrival at women's park skateboarding heights has been nothing less than meteoric. The Japanese sensation rewrote its history books in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She was just twelve years old when, on home soil, she landed herself a silver medal at the Women's Park event to become the youngest Olympic skateboarder ever.

The legacy of these greats will only inspire the future generation of skaters as skateboarding continues its evolution and rise in popularity. Be it the technical wizardry of Keegan Palmer, creative brilliance from Jagger Eaton, or youthful energy oozing off Sky Brown, these are skaters that have created a path to immortal skateboarding greatness.