It’s a bond that has been forged by many of the competitors literally growing up skating together in events around the world, while many of the women’s competitors are united in their roles as pioneers for the sport in their respective countries.

For Australia, the Park competition was one of our most successful at the Games.

Keegan Palmer, 18, became our youngest gold medal winner at the Tokyo Games as he dominated the men’s competition, producing the two highest scoring runs of the Final. He created history as Australia’s first Olympic medal winner in the sport and was the only non-Japanese competitor to win a gold medal in skateboarding.

Kieran Woolley, 17, one of the youngest members of the Australian Olympic Team, surpassed his own expectations to finish fifth in the Final, having qualified second with one of the best runs of the day. His fearless approach in the Final won him many admirers and showcased why he will be among Australia’s best hopes to qualify for Paris 2024.

Poppy Starr Olsen, 21, also finished a superb fifth in the women’s final, creating her own history as the first woman to represent Australia at the Olympics in Park skateboarding. She, too, won plenty of admirers for her skill and show of sportsmanship as she first consoled then helped chair off a despondent Misugu Okamoto from the course after the world No.1 Japanese star crashed out of medal contention.

But while there plenty of genuine camaraderie among the competitors, there was also a fierce desire to win.

Palmer, whose father is American, moved to San Diego four years ago so the rising teenage star could further develop his skills in what is regarded as the home of Park skateboarding in the USA.

With coach Alex Donnini they then perfectly executed an ambitious and methodical plan on the way to gold that left Palmer’s competitors awestruck with the skill level and creativity of his tricks.

From a training camp in Australia where he honed a new series of tricks away from the watchful eyes of his rivals, to heat training sessions in Houston and other speciality training camps in San Diego and Utah, Palmer left no stone unturned in his quest for gold.

He also overcame a bout of Covid, which he contracted in hotel quarantine in Australia, leaving him isolated for 24 days.

“My last run, the trick that I did (a kick flip body varial 540), no one had seen it in a Park contest like this,” Palmer said.

“That was the game-plan since the start of this year, not post anything, just have a solid plan, make sure no one knows what’s happening, and I came out swinging.

“I put a lot of hard work into it and I’m grateful it paid off.”

David Taylor