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Newcastle Herald
Newcastle Herald
National
Josh Callinan and Nick Bielby

Australian skateboarder Poppy Olsen finishes fifth in Olympic final in Tokyo

FIFTH: Newcastle's Poppy Starr Olsen at Tokyo Olympics on Wednesday. Picture: AP Photo/Ben Curtis

Australia's first ever Olympic skateboarding finalist, Newcastle's Poppy Starr Olsen, has finished fifth in the women's park event.

The 21-year-old was placed as high as fourth after her second run of 46.04 at Ariake Sports Park on Wednesday, but eventually slipped back one spot.

Olsen scored 35.20 and 39.28 from her first and third runs respectively.

Host nation Japan claimed a quinella courtesy of Sakura Yosozumi (60.09) and Kokona Hiraki (59.04).

Great Britain's Sky Brown (56.47) collected bronze.

Olsen helped console Japan's fourth-placed Misugu Okamoto (53.58) after the last run of competition.

All athletes on the podium were teenagers, ranging from 12 to 19.

Olsen was ranked sixth after the preliminary rounds, held at the same venue earlier on Wednesday, with eight skaters qualifying for the decider.

Because of the COVID-19 restrictions, only a select few of the Olympic rookie's family could gather on the couch in The Junction - with some green and gold balloons and party pies - to watch her try for a medal.

Her mum, Thomas Olsen, told the Newcastle Herald shortly after the event wrapped up that the family had spoken to Poppy on a live video feed after she had finished competing.

"She's absolutely thrilled," Ms Olsen said.

"Our whole goal was to make the finals and then you never know what's going to happen. You saw [Okamoto] Misugu, who's the world number one, fall on every run.

"[Poppy] did the best runs she could with the little practice she had and we're just really, really proud of her. We're stoked with the result, really.

"It was always probably going to be that result with the Japanese all in front."

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