There were two options for Horigome Yuto.
Win the men’s street skateboarding final at the Olympic Qualifier Series (OQS) Budapest to secure an NOC quota* and with it the right to defend his Olympic title at Paris 2024, or bow out of the race and watch another take his place.
Under the might of pressure the Japanese gold medallist did the former.
It began with a strong start. After the close of the run section the Japanese superstar – with his 90.26 opener – sat second in the order.
Then came the best trick section. And just as he did on the baking tarmac of Tokyo three years ago, Horigome burst into life.
Stomping down his first trick the 25-year-old skater shouted from his chest as he landed, showing more emotion in that moment than he had ever dared previously to let slip.
It was a signal of intent. And when the 95.65 score hit the screen it confirmed what many had already sensed – Horigome was here to fight.
The lead then exchanged hands with Japanese 14-year-old young gun Onodera Ginwoo and world champion Shirai Sora, like Horigome, rising to the growing occasion. But by the third trick attempt there could be no doubt. Launching himself successfully into a nollie 270 bluntslide down the big rail Horigome kicked his board across the park exclaiming once again.
The applause poured down. Fellow street skaters including Nyjah Huston, shared their approval. But nothing could compare to the 97.10 score that graced the screen. The mark – the highest-ever trick score in Olympic street skateboarding qualifying history – catapulted Horigome to the top of the order, giving him a combined score of 283.01.
The awe of the moment seemed to linger even after it had passed. No skater across the final managed to muster a response with all eight bailing in their fourth trick attempts.
When Onodera Ginwoo, sitting in second, was unable to surpass Horigome with his final trick, what was left for Horigome was a essentially victory lap. He bailed again. It didn’t matter. He had done what he had set out to do. He won the contest and placed himself among the top three Japanese in the Olympic World Skate Ranking.
Joining him on top of the podium were compatriots Onodera and Shirai, who with their result in Budapest, also secured an NOC quota for Paris.
By consequence, Netsuke Kairi – who finished in seventh – did not.
Also missing the chance to change their Paris fortunes was US skater Braden Hoban.
The Californian needed to podium in the final to shake up the top three for USA and despite a monstrous effort in the best trick section, he was unable to recover from his two low run scores.
*As National Olympic Committees have the exclusive authority for the representation of their respective countries at the Olympic Games, athletes’ participation at the Paris Games depends on their NOC selecting them to represent their delegation at Paris 2024.
Click here to see the official qualification system for each sport.