The Wheel Deal: Keegan Palmer Scores Second Gold At Paris Games
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Australian skateboarder Keegan Palmer has earned his second Olympic gold medal, taking out the top spot in the men’s park event.
Keegan Palmer dominated with a masterful performance, drawing 93.11 points on his first run to secure another gold medal for Australia and earning high praise from skateboarding legend Tony Hawk, who was watching from the stands.
“Dude, I can’t even believe it bro. I literally… like I’m speechless,” Palmer told Nine following his win.
It was a triumphant victory for Keegan, celebrated by his fellow competitors in a fine display of the camaraderie and fellowship that defines the skateboarding community. American Tom Schaar won silver with near flawless runs, while Brazilian Augusto Akio followed up with the bronze.
Akio’s teammate Pedro Barros provided stiff competition throughout the piece with searing speed and impressive footwork, only narrowly missing out on a medal, while Keegan’s teammate and Olympic debutante Keefer Wilson bookended the event in 8th place.
In just the second year of skateboarding being included as an Olympic sport, Australia has already emerged as a powerful competitor in the field. Only 24 hours prior to Keegan’s win, Arisa Trew became Australia’s youngest Olympic gold medallist at just 14, following a mammoth display of skateboarding prowess in the women’s park event.
As the newly crowned king and queen of professional skateboarding in Australia, Keegan Palmer and Arisa Trew represent a new generation of the sport. Both hailing from the Gold Coast, their Olympic achievements have also spotlighted the region as a hotbed for emerging skating talent.
Image: Getty – Alex Panting
Skateboarding is a welcome and refreshing addition to the Olympic roster. For casual watchers, it provides exciting and accessible viewing; for diehard skaters, it’s global validation of the lifestyle to which they have devoted themselves.
Born in San Diego, Keegan shunned Team USA to compete for Australia. Following his second Olympic gold medal, Keegan is focussed on carrying though to represent Australia locally at the Brisbane Olympics in 2032.
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