U.S. Olympics Skateboarding Team Names Nyjah Huston, Louie Lopez and More
The inaugural team includes 16 men and women in the park and street categories.
Following the 2016 Rio Olympics, the International Olympics Committee (IOC) ruled that skateboarding, surfing, karate, sports climbing and baseball/softball would be added as official sports in the 2020 games. Now, the inaugural skateboarding team for Team USA has officially been announced, which includes a roster of eight men and eight women. Josh Friedberg, CEO of USA Skateboarding, made the announcement at California Skatepark‘s Training Facility in Vista, California on Wednesday.
“Skateboarding grew up outside of the Olympic structure. It’s a lifestyle, it’s a culture, it’s about finding freedom of expression. All these things are why the IOC wanted skateboarding in the Olympic Games in the first place,” Friedberg told ESPN.
The women’s park and street competitors include Jordyn Barratt, Bryce Wettstein, Brighton Zeuner, Nicole Hause, Mariah Duran, Jenn Soto, Alexis Sablone, and Lacey Baker.
On the men’s side, the names include Louie Lopez, Jagger Eaton, Chris Joslin, Nyjah Huston, Alex Sorgente, Tristan Rennie, Tom Schaar, and Zion Wright.
The team was chosen based on their performance in the 2018 contest Finals and USA Skateboarding will assist them in qualifying for the 2020 Summer Games. A maximum of 12 American athletes will be eligible to compete in the Olympics.
Watch a recap of the announcement shot by The Berrics above, and take a look at the upcoming Olympics’ cherry blossom-inspired torch.
