'Go girls': 13-year-olds shock world in 'powerful' Olympics moment
In what is sure to be one of the memorable moments of the Tokyo Olympics, 13 year olds Momiji Nishiya and Rayssa Leal won gold and silver respectively before a heartwarming moment in the women's street skateboard.
The Olympics sets its self apart from any other sporting event due to the spirit showed in the heat of battle and in a historic moment for skateboarding, Brazilian teen Leal embraced Japan's Nishiya after the pair grabbed 1st and 2nd in the event.
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To make matters more remarkable, all three medallists were teenagers with bronze medalist Funa Nakayama of Japan only 16 years old.
And in a highlight of the event, the 'Olympic spirit' was well and truly alive in some of the Games' youngest competitors.
Fans watched on as Nishiya won the event with a beaming smile, before Leal's heartwarming embrace with her rival.
Fans couldn't get enough of the remarkable sportsmanship shown between the young competitors.
13-year-old gold and silver medalists Momiji Nishiya and Rayssa Leal embrace after an amazing day of #Skateboarding
Keep an eye on these two over the next few decades! #Tokyo2020 | #7Olympics pic.twitter.com/x64VbEdKX9— 7Olympics (@7olympics) July 26, 2021
look at them!! their names are nishiya momiji and rayssa leal! 🥺🥺🥺🥺 pic.twitter.com/m0ZkWNmVSx
— 🌻sam🌻 (@sambutwithbooks) July 26, 2021
absolutely insane, GO GIRLS https://t.co/12Pil30707
— cara (@laterschlager) July 26, 2021
Final scores. Margielyn Didal finishes the #Tokyo2020 #Olympics Street #Skateboarding Finals at 7th place.
Love her character. She fought through a sprain last Saturday that got aggravated in the 2nd run in the prelims. Here she is still flashing a wide smile.
Salamat, Margie! pic.twitter.com/Hj1gm4TzJO— Gretchen Ho (@gretchenho) July 26, 2021
Momiji Nishiya wins the first #gold in women's #skateboarding.
She’s only 13. 😍 #Olympics #Tokyo2020
pic.twitter.com/c1Q4Iq0KKw— 𝗔𝘆𝘀𝗵𝗮 𝗥𝗶𝗱𝘇𝘂𝗮𝗻 (@ayshardzn) July 26, 2021
Japan's Nishiya Momiji is the first ever women's Olympic #skateboarding gold medalist. Wins the street event. She's 13!
2nd - Rayssa Leal from Brazil. Also 13!
3rd - Nakayuma Fuma. 16.
Is this the youngest Olympic podium? #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/3N7A8ZKRK2— amal john (@amaljohn123) July 26, 2021
7 years old → 13 years old@Rayssa_Leal_Sk8 is the youngest athlete to ever represent, and also win a medal for Brazil in the Olympics.
'Little fairy' 🧚♀️🛹🥈 https://t.co/veUYXA1mZW— Anderson F. Brito (@AndersonBrito_) July 26, 2021
both of them are 13 and they are olympic medalists. GIRLS ARE SO POWERFUL pic.twitter.com/8XsEWDtMYG
— giulia (@badgalgiugiu) July 26, 2021
Japan makes history in Olympics skateboarding
Nishiya is the second youngest gold medalist in Olympic history after diver Marjorie Gerstring.
The 13-year-old's victory comes after Japan's Yuto Horigome won the men's skateboarding gold on Sunday.
Leal became the youngest ever Brazilian to compete at the Olympics and therefore created history in becoming the youngest Brazilian athlete to win a medal.
The Olympics often inspires a generation to dream and aim to compete in the pinnacle of sport.
Bloomberg reporter Lisa Du pointed out their were two young kids skateboarding outside Ariake Skatepark following Nishiya and Nakayama's medals, showcasing the power of a home Olympics.
Two girls in team Japan skateboarding shirts w/ their skateboards outside Ariake Skatepark after Japan’s Nishiya and Nakayama won gold & bronze for women’s street skateboarding. Both had been skateboarding for about a year and said they were waiting to say hi to the athletes. pic.twitter.com/7m6ZAybTus
— Lisa Du (@lisadont) July 26, 2021
On Monday athletes competed again in front of empty stands without roars of approval from fans when they landed difficult moves, as spectators were kept away in Tokyo due to anti-COVID-19 measures.
with Reuters
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