Australian skateboarders Keegan Palmer and Arisa Trew have bolstered their Paris medal prospects by claiming gold in the park events in the Olympic Qualifier Series in Budapest. The duo, who both hail from the Gold Coast, capped off an impressive run for the Australians in Hungary.
Tokyo Olympic champion Palmer was back at his best in the high-scoring final, posting a winning run of 94.94 to hold off an American challenge from Tate Schaar and Tom Carew, who also scored in the 90s. Australian teammate Kieran Woolley finished sixth.
“There are no words, I’m just speechless at this point,” 21-year-old Palmer said. “There were no tears but definitely some emotions, being like ‘Yes’, finally back on another podium, it’s been a while so I’m very happy. I’m very excited to have the opportunity to represent my country once again.”
Trew won back-to-back gold medals at the Olympic Qualifier Series (OQS) after also winning the Shanghai competition to establish herself as the skater to beat heading into Paris next month. She held out Great Britain’s Sky Brown, with Japan’s Kokona Hiraki third.
“It felt really fun and I was really happy with how I did, I’m just amazed right now,” said 14-year-old Trew. “My first run didn’t go as well as I wanted to, I just landed a bit sketchy on everything, but on my second run it was really good because I landed it well with a lot of speed.
“I definitely wasn’t thinking that it would go into first, so when I saw it [the score] I was in shock. I’m so excited; winning both the OQS events has given me a lot of confidence.”
In the women’s street, top seed Chloe Covell finished fifth after she decided not to contest her final trick, suffering a bruise to her heel during one of landings. Japan dominated that event, filling five of the top six positions.
Australia has qualified nine spots for the Paris Olympic Games across the global standings and World Skate qualification, with three men’s and women’s athletes able to compete in each discipline.
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The team will be officially announced this week.
Street: Chloe Covell, Liv Lovelace, Hayley Powell and Shane O’Neill
Park: Keegan Palmer, Kieran Woolley, Keefer Wilson, Arisa Trew and Ruby Trew