- Keegan Palmer has won gold again
- Australian skateboarder, 21, triumphs in Paris
- That means he is a two-time Olympic champion
Keegan Palmer has been crowned Olympic champion again.
The 21-year-old Australian skateboarder dominated the men’s final in Paris on Wednesday, defending the gold medal he won in Tokyo three years ago.
His score of 93.11 was too good for the rest of the field, who all fell on their final two runs and were unable to match his total.
Palmer said he therefore felt “fortunate” that everything in Paris turned out well.
“Dude, I can’t believe it bro,” he said on Nine. “I’m literally speechless. I got really lucky because everyone fell off on their last two runs, but I had something prepared. If I needed it.
‘But I do not know dude. I’m speechless. I just can’t believe it bro.
‘Everyone’s shouting at me. I’m just happy. Come on Australia, let’s do this.’
Watched by skateboarding legend Tony Hawk, who was also among the fans who had cheered Arisa Trew’s performance the day before, he gave up in his second run, while his best American friend Tom Schaar, the eventual silver medal winner, came very close in the second round with a score of 92.23.
Keegan Palmer has won a second gold medal after his skateboarding victory
The 21-year-old Australian successfully defended the title he won in Tokyo
In heartwarming scenes, Palmer was held aloft by his rivals after his victory
But none of his pursuers could match the Gold Coast American star at the third attempt, and they went under when they tried to match his score.
When Schaar fell, Palmer knelt to celebrate and was then able to enjoy what was essentially a lap of honor with his final run.
However, he didn’t complete the jump and fell, but he still held his skateboard aloft and saluted the cheering crowd.
It was the perfect successor for Palmer to follow in the footsteps of Trew, who had become Australia’s youngest ever gold medallist.
17-year-old Keefer Wilson, whose father Peter built one of the largest skate ramps in the Southern Hemisphere for him and his sister to use in the backyard of their home in Nyora, Victoria, continued the youthful performance by qualifying fifth with a score of 90.10.
But he failed to complete a run in the final, finishing eighth.
Palmer’s victory takes Australia’s gold medal tally to 16, following Matt Wearn’s victory in the rowing boat race.
The men’s cycling team later added another gold medal to Australia’s winning streak, winning the team pursuit against Team GB.
