By Mimosa Spencer
PARIS (Reuters) – American skateboarder Nyjah Huston shared his disappointment at missing the gold medal at the Paris Olympics after coming within reach of topping the podium, saying on Friday it was “taking everything” in him to “get out of bed and start living again”.
A gold medal win looked within reach for Huston, 29, who ultimately took the bronze medal at the men’s street skateboarding competition last week.
“I didn’t go into Paris with expectations. Just wanted to go out there, land some tricks and enjoy the moment,” said Huston in a post on Instagram on Friday, saying the past couple of days had been tough.
Coming so close to clinching the title was painful, said Huston, who finished seventh in the Tokyo Games in 2021.
In Monday’s nail-biting final, Huston held the lead in the first two rounds, thanks to a pair of high-scoring tricks.
He was overtaken by fellow U.S. skateboarder Jagger Eaton, and, at the last minute, Japan’s Yuto Horigome pulled in front of them both.
“But after being in a position with a good shot at the win and not pulling thru… it hurts,” said Huston, one of the biggest names in the sport since retired great Tony Hawk.
“It felt like a once in a lifetime opportunity,” said the skater, who will be 33 when the Los Angeles Games take place on his home turf in four years time.
It was not just his competitive side that made him “bummed” on himself, said Huston on Friday, even more, “it’s the passion.”
(Reporting by Mimosa Spencer; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
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