Australian skateboarding stars take huge leap towards Paris Games in Shanghai (2024)

Teen skateboarding star Arisa Trew has given herself an excellent shot at reaching Paris 2024, beating a stacked field to win gold at the Shanghai Olympic Qualifier series on Sunday.

The 14-year-old Gold Coast skater topped the standings in the women's park final, ahead of world number one Hiraki Kokona and fellow Aussie Ruby Trew, who finished eighth.

"This has given me a massive boost for Paris," Trew said.

"It's really good having skaters like Kokona and all the other girls in the heat just pushing each other because it makes everyone land their runs and get more competitive, but in a really good environment because we're all friends.

"I'm just really happy with how I went each day here and I'm really happy with the result I got today."

Trew topped the standings after her second run was scored 91.16, edging Tokyo silver medallist Kokona into second.

"I guess my secret is just to try my best, to have fun and then just commit to everything in the competition," she said.

"I just imagine that I'm still in the practice and I'm just having heaps of fun because skating is fun."

The Olympic Qualifier series is a two-legged knock-out competition forbreaking, sport climbing, skateboarding and BMX freestyle athletes to achieve the final spots at the Paris Games.

The first series took place in Shanghai last weekend, with the second competition set for Budapest on June 20-23.

"In Budapest, I am going to do my best and land some solid runs and have heaps of fun," Trew said.

"Hopefully I can get into the final and maybe another podium there, which would be super cool, but I'm really just excited to compete there."

There was also success in the men's competition, with defending Olympic champion Keegan Palmer finishing second and Kieran Woolley fourth.

"I am beyond stoked, I can't believe it," Palmer said.

"When you finally have a contest where you're not injured and you can give 110 per cent, it's awesome. While it was still a little sloppy, I'll take it."

"This gives me a lot of confidence that I can still do it.

"It's been a year and a half of injuries and having to pull out of contests, so this is great for the mental side of things."

In the women's street final, Chloe Covell finished in eighth spot, keeping her hopes of qualification alive.

The top 20 athletes per discipline after the Olympic Qualifier Series, with a maximum of three athletes per country, will be eligible for selection for the Paris Olympic Games.

Australia will be able to take a total of 12 athletes from within the top 20 (three per discipline, per gender).

Arisa Trew is currently sitting in second place in the Women's Park Olympic Rankings with Ruby Trew in sixth whilst Keegan Palmer is ranked fourth, Kieran Woolley seventh and Keefer Wilson 11th on the Men's side. In the Street event, Chloe Covell is ranked fourth.

BMX Freestyle success for Logan Martin

Australia's Olympic gold medallist from Tokyo, Logan Martin, appears set to get a chance to defend his BMX freestyle title in Paris after finishing second behind French rider Anthony Jeanjean.

Martin looked set for a big score after his first run, but fell late on.

However, the 30-year-old starred in his second effort to soar into second place.

"I started off the [first] run with a couple of average landings, and I missed a transition a little bit, so by halfway through my run I was pretty gassed, I was a bit tired, and then I slipped up on one of my tricks and slid out," Martin said.

"Going into that second run, I knew I needed to clean up those first few landings so I could continue the run smoothly and finish off that run.

"I'm excited to get these qualifying events done and to do my best to qualify for Paris.

"I'd love to go to another Olympics and do my best to back up my performance in Tokyo and give myself a good shot at winning another gold medal."

There was less success for Australia's other competitors.

A costly fall for 17-year-old Sarah Nicki saw her finish in 17th spot, with Natalya Diehm recording an eighth-place finish.

Alec Danelutti and Jaie Toohey missed the finals, finishing in 19th and 14th place respectively.

Riders can earn up to 50 points at each Olympic Qualifier Series, with the top six riders on the most points after the two rounds booking their tickets to Paris — making up half the 12-rider allocation who will compete at the Games.

Martin earned 45 points from the event in Shanghai, while Toohey scored 27 points and Danelutti 22 points.Diehm scored 32 points and Nicki 24 points.