Skateboarding 

The Australian team endured a tough start to its inaugural Olympic competition with Shane O’Neill, the 2016 World Champion, crashing out in qualifying as the heat and demanding course took its toll. 

““I maybe didn’t choose the wisest tricks, just with this heat, my board was a little loose and I was trying a switch 360 double flip and I kept landing and falling off, so it was a little difficult out there for me,” said O’Neill, who finished 16th in qualifying to miss the eight man-final. 

“This course for me was not ideal, it was super big and that mixed with the heat and stuff, it wasn’t working too well for me obviously, as everyone saw. 

“I wish I could have done better and made the final and done the things I planned on doing, but it just wasn’t my day here and that’s all good.” 

While it wasn’t the best competition day for O’Neill personally, he was celebrating.  

Gold medallist Yuto Horigome, from Japan, is one of O’Neill’s best friends and he soared to victory riding one of O’Neill’s company designed boards and wearing his signature shoes. 

Brazil’s Kelvin Hoefler took silver and American Jagger Eaton won bronze 

“Seeing my friend win was crazy,” O’Neill said, praising the performance of the Japanese star. “I’m super proud of him.” 

Wilson set for her Olympic Street shot 

Five-time national champion Hayley Wilson will become the first woman to represent Australia at the Olympic Games in skateboarding when she competes in the Women’s Street event at Ariake Urban Sports Park. 

Wilson, from Mansfield in Victoria, is ranked in the top 10 and lines up against the best in the world with the Brazilian duo of Pamela Rosa, 21, and 13-year-old Rayssa Leal the top-ranked. 

The 19-year-old had her last practice run on the course late this afternoon and is primed for the tough conditions. She will launch her medal quest in heat 2, with the Street heats starting at 9.30am AEST 

David Taylor