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Newcastle’s Poppy Olsen through to Tokyo park final

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Newcastle skateboarder Poppy Olsen has qualified for the women’s park final on the back of a stellar opening ride at the Tokyo Olympics.

Taking part in the last of four heats to determine the eight finalists, Olsen, 21, put down a 44.03 on her first ride to be ranked sixth heading into Wednesday afternoon’s finals.

Riders have three 40-second rides with only their best counting as their qualifying score, Olsen doing enough in her first ride to secure progression.

The world No.4 fell on both her second and third rides, but it mattered little as she already had a banker she could rely on to get through.

Olsen will be part of a red-hot field in the final, with world No.1 Misugu Okamoto – the 15-year-old Japanese star who is the reigning world champion and X-Games winner – setting the pace with a 58.51 on her last ride.

So good was Okamoto that the worst of her three scores would have qualified in second spot as she looks to make it three from three for the locals after Japan earlier took double gold in the street events in skateboarding’s Olympic debut.

Okamoto’s last ride was enough to see her pip 13-year-old British sensation Sky Brown for top spot, while 12-year-old Hiraki Kokona – who in 2019 became the youngest ever X-Games medallist with silver as a 10-year-old – was third after qualifying.

“It’s crazy to be here. It’s been really fun,” Brown said.

“Everyone is just ripping and it’s awesome. I didn’t really think about the scores, but I’m really stoked for that score.”

The last eight will feature six of the world’s top eight riders, including three riders from Japan, two from Brazil and one each from Great Britain, Australia and the US.

AAP

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