It’s been a long time coming, but skateboarding is officially making its Olympic debut at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics this weekend!
While many think skateboarding is more of a “casual” sport (or don’t even think its a sport at all), skating is taken very seriously around the world. With legendary skaters like Tony Hawk, Ryan Sheckler, Rob Dyrdek, Bob Burnquist and Leticia Bufoni and events like X Games, SLS Street League and Dew Tour being some of the trailblazers for making the sport mainstream, the progression of skating has changed immensely for this generation; ultimately catching the eyes of the IOC to include in the 2020 games.
While the decision has sparked some controversy, many people (including us) are looking forward to seeing what some of our favorite skaters will bring to the table on one of the biggest competitive stages of all time.
“I cannot believe it. It’s something that skateboarding has really been needing and it’s very crucial,” current Team USA member Jagger Eaton told Celeb Secrets reporters back in 2016 after the decision was made. “I just hope one day that I’ll be able to be in [the Olympics] and be good enough [to qualify].”
2020 Tokyo Olympics: Complete Coverage
Just like other contests, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics will feature both Park and Street skating. For those who don’t know, “Park” places skaters in a bowl shaped arena, which forces them to use momentum to perform air bound tricks. The majority of their movement is vertical, shuffling up and down the curves. In “Street” skating, the course includes props you would encounter in the street. Riding across benches, railings, and stairs make someone successful in this category.
Click through the gallery below to learn more about each member of Team USA’s Men’s Skateboarding Team and don’t forget to let us know who your favorite is by either leaving a reaction at the bottom of the post or by sending us a tweet at @celebsecrets.
