Olympics 2020: Tony Hawk performs at Tokyo’s skateboard park

For the first time in history, skateboarding is an event at the 2020 Olympics which are currently underway in Tokyo and skateboarding hero Tony Hawk is commentating on the events. However, he couldn’t resist the urge to check out the ramps and rails for himself as he grabbed his board and pulled off some tricks in the Ariake Urban Sports Park.

Hawk had shared a video of himself in the skatepark just as the men’s USA and Japan teams were wrapping up their practise session. His status in skateboarding culture is respected all over the world as professional skateboarders such as Team Japan’s Yuto Horigome had commented “Arigato”, thanking him for gracing the park while Vincent Milou from Team France had called him a ‘legend’.

Anyone that says skateboarding shouldn’t be an event at the games can pop shove it because skateboarding was officially declared an Olympic sport back in 2016.

“As a kid that was mostly lambasted for my interest in skateboarding, I never imagined it would be part of the Olympic Games. It’s surreal to now be in Tokyo bearing witness to this milestone in the most unprecedented circumstances. I know in the end it will help to grow skateboarding’s profile internationally, exposing our passion to an audience that has never seen it before or simply refused to embrace it.” said Tony Hawk in his post’s caption.

Major skateboarding competitions such as the X-Games and the World Skate Park Open are primarily attended by skateboard enthusiasts but now that skateboarding events are being held at the Olympics, a much wider audience will be exposed to the sport.

“A whole new generation will get to experience skateboarding with genuine public support and meaningful opportunity. I predict it will be one of the highlights from all the Olympic Games coverage this year. And I’m all for it.” continued Hawk in his Instagram post.

To quote Team USA’s Nyjah Huston who also commented on Tony Hawk’s post:

“Hell yea, Tony.”

The 2020 Olympic Games will run until August 8 and other sports debuting this year are sport climbing, surfing, 3×3 basketball and karate along with baseball and softball returning for this year only as the two sports are very popular in Japan.