Momiji Nishiya Wins Gold At 13

CREDIT: Reuters

All three medals in women's street skateboarding at the Tokyo Olympics were awarded to teenagers.

Momiji Nishiya from Japan secured the gold medal at only 13-years-old.

The silver medal went to Rayssa Leal (13) from Brazil, and the bronze medal went to Funa Nakayama (16) from Japan.

Momiji has said, "I'm simply very, very delighted. I am so happy." She believes that her win "had nothing to do with my age."

CREDIT: Lucy Nicholson/Reuters

Skateboarding was always speculated to gear towards the younger generations, but that doesn't mean it's only younger generations. It has some of the largest age gaps in any sport, with Kokona Hiraki (12) and Rune Glifberg (46) competing as well.

The youngest athlete at the Tokyo Olympics is table-tennis player Hend Zaza (12) from Syria. The next five youngest athletes are all female skateboarders.

The appeal of skateboarding to younger generations is a main reason that the IOC decided to add it as one of the new sports. 

CREDIT: Harry Latham Coyle/eurosport.com

The governing body has stated, "The five sports offer a key focus on youth, which is at the heart of the Games vision for Tokyo 2020. They represent a combination of well-established and emerging sports with significant popularity in Japan and beyond. They include team sports and individual sports; indoor sports and outdoor sports; and 'urban' sports with a strong appeal to youth."

Alexis Sablone, who finished in fourth-place said, "I was like, 'We're finally here.' Female skateboarders have reached critical mass. There's enough now that there will be prodigies. And they're here." 

CREDIT: Ben Curtis/AP