TOKYO — Many of the competitors in Monday’s women’s street skateboarding event–—the sport’s Olympic debut—spoke about how they hope to inspire a generation of girls to try skateboarding. In some cases, that generation was here, in Tokyo, skating alongside them.
Fully half the field could have been in summer camp instead of the Summer Olympics, including all three medalists. Gold medalist Nishiya Momiji, of Japan, is 13, as is silver medalist Rayssa Leal, of Brazil. Bronze medalist Funa Nakayama, of Japan, is 16, as is Wenhui Zheng, of China, who finished sixth.
They did not feel they needed to be inspired.