Which skateboarder won the first Olympic women’s street skateboarding gold medal?

Momiji Nishiya won the first Olympic women’s street skateboarding gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics.

The women’s street contest took place on 26 July 2021 at Ariake Urban Sports Park, where skateboarding made its Olympic debut. Although called Tokyo 2020, the Games were held in 2021 after the COVID-19 pandemic caused a one-year postponement. Street skateboarding combines runs with individual trick attempts on a course designed to resemble an urban environment, including rails, stairs and ledges.

Nishiya, representing Japan, was 13 years old when she won. Brazil’s Rayssa Leal, also 13, earned silver, while Japan’s Funa Nakayama took bronze. Nishiya’s victory made her one of the youngest Olympic champions in history, and the all-female podium reflected the strength of the host nation and Brazil in the new event.

This result is sometimes confused with the women’s park competition, which was held later in Tokyo. Sakura Yosozumi won that inaugural Olympic park title, while Nishiya’s gold belongs specifically to street skateboarding.