The waiting game is now on for American skateboarders Jagger Eaton.
Since the Olympic qualifiers for skaters began more than two years ago under the hot Roman sun, Eaton’s question has been clear: compete in Paris in both park and street skateboarding.
The road was long, winding and demanding Tokyo 2020 road bronze medal. The physical cost of the challenge was painful. the mental side as well. And as of yesterday evening, everything looked on track for Eaton to have qualified for the street and park semi-finals at Olympic Qualifying Series (OQS) in Budapest.
Then, before the road showdown began, it was announced that Eaton would retire from the road semi-final – but not park.
Eaton hit the bowl normally, going through his standard routine beforehand. But then, on his first run, he crashed. He gingerly picked himself to the sides and worked to fall back in. Then came a second fall. And then a third.
Unable to get a single clear run, Arizona finished the semifinals in last place and in doing so, now leaves the door open Someone Schaar – currently ranked fourth among US park skaters – to secure the final US quota spot.
Schaar, who has been tearing up the bowl in Budapest, advanced to the final in second place in the semifinals with a statement 92.12 first race. Only an Olympian Keegan Palmer finished higher (93.76).
For Saar, there is no doubt that he will throw everything into tomorrow’s final:
“I’m trying as hard as I can,” the 24-year-old said of his hopes in Paris. “In the other competitions I guess they were so lucky and things didn’t go well, but hopefully if they do it will go well tomorrow we’ll see.”
Schaar’s showmanship wasn’t the only performance that had local fans and fellow skaters wildly applauding.
After sealing his place in tomorrow’s final with a final run of 87.37, Brazil’s Augusto Akio plunged into the conical volcano structure in the middle of the bowl to juggle three sticks while skating through the dip.
It went round and round, enveloping love. “I just want to make my mark,” the spirited Brazilian said afterwards, smiling.
Joining Akio, Schaar and Palmer in the final is the OQS Shanghai winner Tate Carew, Gavin Bottger, Kieran Woolley, Victor Solmunde and Vincent Matheron.
OQS Budapest is the last chance for skaters to gather ranking points which will be used to determine the final field for the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
On Sunday, June 23, the final of the men’s park competition will take place.
All the skateboarding action from the Olympic Qualifier Series Shanghai was broadcast live on the Olympic Channel via Olympics.com, the official Olympic Games mobile app.