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Yuto Horigome (skateboarder)

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Yuto Horigome
堀米 雄斗
Yuto Horigome at X Games Chiba 2022
Personal information
Native name堀米 雄斗
Born (1999-01-07) 7 January 1999 (age 25)
Kōtō, Tokyo, Japan
Height170 cm (5 ft 7 in)
Weight55 kg (121 lb)
Sport
CountryJapan
SportSkateboarding
PositionGoofy-footed
Rank3rd – street (August 2024)[1]
Event(s)Street, park
Turned pro2019
Medal record
Men's street skateboarding
Representing  Japan
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2020 Tokyo Street
Gold medal – first place 2024 Paris Street
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2021 Rome Street
Silver medal – second place 2019 São Paulo Street
Bronze medal – third place 2023 Tokyo Street
X Games
Gold medal – first place 2019 Minneapolis Street
Gold medal – first place 2022 Chiba Street
Gold medal – first place 2023 California Street
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Shanghai Street

Yuto Horigome (堀米 雄斗, Horigome Yūto, born 7 January 1999) is a Japanese professional skateboarder and two-time Olympic champion. He won the gold medal in the inaugural Olympic men's street event at the 2020 Summer Olympics, becoming the first person to win gold in men's street skateboarding at the Summer Olympics. He defended his gold medal in the same event at the 2024 Summer Olympics.[2]

Childhood

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Horigome along with his two younger brothers were born in Tokyo, Japan, to taxi driver and ex street skateboarder Ryota Horigome.[3] Ryota Horigome exposed his son Yuto to skateboarding before he could walk.[4] At the age of seven Yuto was already frequenting Tokyo's Murasaki Sport's Park, better known as "Amazing Square" Skate Park.[3] Yuto spent hours here practicing his tricks and honing his skills. By age 12 he knew his dream was to be a professional skater and continued to train relentlessly, encouraged by his heroes Mike Carroll, Gino Iannucci, Eric Koston, Guy Mariano, Shane O'Neill, and Paul Rodriguez.

Skateboarding career

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Relocation

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At age 14, Horigome began traveling to the United States for skating trips and eventually moved to Los Angeles, California at age 16, where he currently resides.[5][6][7] Due to his travel schedule, he attended high school from a virtual online school. When in the United States, Horigome stays with friends, including pro skateboarder Micky Papa, in Los Angeles, California.[3][8] Horigome stays in the United States during the winter due to the cold season in Japan to continue practicing his tricks.

Early career

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California's thriving and vibrant skate culture empowered Horigome to continue practicing and entering skate contests.[4] Horigome finished 2nd place in the Wild in the Parks hosted by Volcom and The Berrics.[3] One year later he competed in the Tampa Am saturday qualifiers finishing in first place.[3] Horigome began to make a name for himself gaining renown for his tricks involving rails and large gaps.[6] While in Los Angeles, In 2015, Yuto filmed some skating parts alongside Canadian skateboarder Micky Papa, who was sponsored by Blind Skateboards.[9] Horigome joined the Blind Skateboards team later that year and stayed with the team until January 2019.[10]

Horigome made his professional Street League Skateboarding (SLS) debut in May 2017, at the championship in Barcelona.[3] Horigome came in third place for a bronze medal at the age of 18, as the youngest of the three medalists.[3] One year later Horigome found himself once again on the podium in London, Los Angeles and Huntington Beach, California, this time winning gold in all three competitions and making history as the first Japanese athlete to win first place in an SLS championship. Horigome also found himself coming first place in the Dew Tour, in front of renowned skater Kelvin Hoefler, with his skate film still available online.[11][12][13]

In May 2019, Horigome joined April Skateboards, owned by pro skater Shane O'Neill.[14][15] Later that same year Yuto further proved himself by winning two gold medals and a bronze at the X Games competitions in Shanghai and Minneapolis. April continued to help Yuto in putting himself on the map coming out with a skate tape titled The Yuto Show!, which showcased his skateboarding abilities in a 3 minute long video.[3][16] Yuto finished 2019 by winning silver against three time reigning champ Nyjah Huston at the São Paulo World Championship.[4][3]

Approaching the Olympics

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Approaching the 2020 Summer Olympics, Yuto Horigome ranked second in men's street on the World Skate (WS) World Skateboarding Olympic Rankings in June 2019, with 62,480 points. At that time, American Nyjah Huston topped the men's street rankings with 67,080 points.[17]

As the 2020 Olympic Games were postponed for a year and the number of skateboarding events in 2020 was significantly reduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the WS Olympic Rankings for June 2021 included points earned from events in the 1 January–30 September 2019 season and the 1 October 2019 – 30 June 2021 season. In the 2021 Skate World Championship Horigome managed to take home the gold over Nyjah Huston, but Horigome remained in second place, with 249,200 points, behind Huston's 269,900 points in the Olympic Rankings.[3][4]

Tokyo Olympic Games and beyond

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At the 2020 Olympic Games Horigome displayed one of the best performances of his career receiving 9.03, 9.30, 9.35 and an astounding 9.50 on his finishing nollie backside 270 totaling to a combined score of 37.18.[4][3] Winning the first ever gold medal for Olympic Skateboarding in his hometown of Tokyo solidified Yuto Horigome as one of the top skateboarders in the world.[3][4]

After the Olympics Horigome went on to win gold in X Games Chiba, which was the first X Games ever held in Japan.[3] Since the X Games Chiba Horigome has gone on to win gold in two more X Games over rivals Braden Hoban and Nyjah Huston.[3] Horigome continues to break records recently becoming the first Japanese skater to win the highly renowned Tampa Pro (skateboard competition).[3]

Sponsorships

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As of August 2024, Horigome is sponsored by Seiko, Nike SB, April Skateboards, Hardies Hardware, Venture, Spitfire, Mixi, Murasaki, Rakuten, Lipovitan, Louis Vuitton, Supreme (brand), Delta Air Lines.[18] Horigome is often seen as the face of skateboarding in Japan helping to increase its popularity in his home country with the help of massive Japanese ecommerce and media company Rakuten even creating and competing in Japan's own Uprising Tokyo Street Skateboarding Competition.[3] Japan's own watch company Seiko also came out with a limited edition watch in collaboration with Horigome.[3] Nike has also come out with a Nike Dunk with a colorway customized by Horigome in honor of his home ward in Tokyo.[4]

Personal honors

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Horigome was named "Skater of the Year" at the Japan Action Sports Awards in 2017 and 2018.[19][20]

Contest history

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This list contains top pro tour, 5-star, and world championship events in which Horigome has participated; it is not an exhaustive list.[12]

Event Host city Venue Date Entrants Discipline Rank
2024 Summer Olympics Paris (France) Place de La Concorde (La Concorde 3) 29 Jul 2024 22 Street 1st place, gold medalist(s)
WST Tokyo Street (2023 World Championship) Tokyo (Japan) Ariake Coliseum 17 Dec 2023 8 Street 3rd place, bronze medalist(s)
WST Lausanne Street Lausanne (Switzerland) Beaulieu Lausanne 16 Sep 2023 8 Street 5th
Street League Skateboarding Tokyo (Japan) Ariake Arena 12 Aug 2023 6 Street 1st place, gold medalist(s)
X Games Ventura (US) Ventura County Fairgrounds 23 Jul 2022 8 Street 1st place, gold medalist(s)
22 Jul 2022 8 Best Trick 1st place, gold medalist(s)
Uprising Tokyo Tokyo (Japan) Ariake Arena 27 May 2023 10 Street 1st place, gold medalist(s)
Tampa Pro Tampa (US) Skatepark of Tampa 5 Mar 2023 12 Street 1st place, gold medalist(s)
Street League Skateboarding Seattle (US) Angel of the Winds Arena 14 Aug 2022 8 Street 1st place, gold medalist(s)
Dew Tour Des Moines (US) Lauridsen Skatepark[21] 29 Jul 2022 12 Street 2nd place, silver medalist(s)
29 Jul 2022 12 Best Trick 1st place, gold medalist(s)
X Games Southern California (US) Brooklyn Rail 24 Jul 2022 10 Real Street Best Trick 1st place, gold medalist(s)
CA Training Facility[22] 23 Jul 2022 10 Street 3rd place, bronze medalist(s)
23 Jul 2022 10 Street Best Trick 8th
Street League Skateboarding Jacksonville (US) VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena 17 Jul 2022 8 Street 1st place, gold medalist(s)
World Street Skateboarding 2022 Rome (Italy) Parco del Colle Oppio[23] 3 Jul 2022 8 Street 8th
Tampa Pro Tampa (US) Skatepark of Tampa 1 May 2022 12 Street 11th
X Games Chiba (Japan) ZOZO Marine Stadium 24 Apr 2022 15 Street 1st place, gold medalist(s)
2020 Summer Olympics Tokyo (Japan) Ariake Urban Sports Park 25 Jul 2021 20 Street 1st place, gold medalist(s)
2021 Street World Championship Rome (Italy) Foro Italico 6 Jun 2021 32 Street 1st place, gold medalist(s)
Dew Tour Des Moines (US) Lauridsen Skatepark 23 May 2021 32 Street 2nd place, silver medalist(s)
Oi STU Open[24] Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) Skatepark da Praça Duó[25] 15 Nov 2019 31 Street 5th
SLS Super Crown[26] Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) Pavilhão de Exposições Anhembi 22 Sep 2019 8 Street 2nd place, silver medalist(s)
ISO Henan[27] Henan (China) Qingfeng Extreme Sports Base[28] 7 Sep 2019[29] 8 Street 1st place, gold medalist(s)
X Games Minneapolis 2019 Minneapolis (US) U.S. Bank Stadium 3 Aug 2019 10 Street 1st place, gold medalist(s)
4 Aug 2019 9 Street Best Trick 2nd place, silver medalist(s)
SLS World Tour 2019 Los Angeles (US) Galen Center 29 Jul 2019 75[30] Street 1st place, gold medalist(s)
X Games Shanghai (China) Shanghai International Resort 1 Jun 2019 10 Street 3rd place, bronze medalist(s)
SLS World Tour 2019 London (UK) Copper Box Arena[31] 26 May 2019 104 Street 9th
SLS World Championship Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) Carioca Arena 1 12 Jan 2019 8 Street 2nd place, silver medalist(s)
Street League Skateboarding Huntington Beach (US) Vans Off The Wall Skatepark 16 Dec 2018 8 Street 1st place, gold medalist(s)
World Skateboarding Championship Nanjing (China) Longjiang Skatepark 2 Nov 2018 8 Park 6th
X Games Sydney (Australia) Sydney Showground 21 Oct 2018 10 Street 5th
CPH OPEN Berlin (Germany) Berlin Skatehalle 11 Aug 2018 11 Street 2nd place, silver medalist(s)
X Games Minneapolis 2018 Minneapolis (US) U.S. Bank Stadium 22 Jul 2018 8 Street 4th
Street League Skateboarding Los Angeles (US) Galen Center 7 Jul 2018 8 Street 1st place, gold medalist(s)
Dew Tour Long Beach (US) Long Beach Convention Center 1 Jul 2018 8 Street 1st place, gold medalist(s)
Street League Skateboarding London (UK) Copper Box Arena 27 May 2018 8 Street 1st place, gold medalist(s)
X Games Oslo (Norway) Telenor Arena 20 May 2018 8 Street 4th
Tampa Pro Tampa (US) Skatepark of Tampa 5 Mar 2018 12 Street 10th
X Games Minneapolis 2017 Minneapolis (US) U.S. Bank Stadium 16 Jul 2017 10 Street 9th
Street League Skateboarding Munich (Germany) Olympic Park 26 Jun 2017 8 Street 2nd place, silver medalist(s)
Dew Tour Long Beach (US) Long Beach Convention Center 16 Jun 2017 6 Street 3rd place, bronze medalist(s)
Street League Skateboarding Barcelona (Spain) Skate Agora 20 May 2017 8 Street 3rd place, bronze medalist(s)
Oi STU OPEN Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) Skatepark da Praça Duó 30 Apr 2017 3 Street 1st place, gold medalist(s)
Cowtown's PHXAM Phoenix (US) Desert West Skateboard Plaza 26 Mar 2017 12 Street 2nd place, silver medalist(s)
Simple Session Tallinn (Estonia) Saku Suurhall 5 Feb 2017 63 Street 2nd place, silver medalist(s)
Tampa Am Tampa (US) Skatepark of Tampa 13 Nov 2016 12 Street 4th
FISE World Series Chengdu (China) South Park 30 Oct 2016 12 Street 2nd place, silver medalist(s)
Damn Am Woodward West Tehachapi (US) Woodward West Skatepark 5 Oct 2014 12 Street 8th

Videography

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References

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  1. ^ "Olympic World Skateboarding Rankings – Street, Male". World Skate. 6 August 2024. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  2. ^ Graham, Bryan Armen (29 July 2024). "Horigome retains Olympic street skateboard title over US duo in 'best ever' show". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Yuto Horigome | Biography, Street Skateboarding, Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 31 May 2024. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "The Story of Yuto Horigome". doseskateboarding.com. 15 October 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  5. ^ "Skateboarding: Japan's Horigome rides into Tokyo Olympic medal contention". Mainichi Daily News. 8 December 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Yuto Horigome". Olympic Games. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
  7. ^ "Athletes: HORIGOME Yuto (Skateboarding)". Tokyo 2020 Olympics at Olympics.com. Archived from the original on 30 July 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  8. ^ "Team". blindskateboards. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
  9. ^ "Voice of Freedom – Yuto Horigome, Global Debut with Blind's Welcome Part". VHS Mag. 8 August 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  10. ^ "Who Will Yuto Horigome Skate for Now That He's off Blind?". SKATEnewswire (Press release). 23 January 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  11. ^ Dew Tour 2018 - Long Beach Men's Street. Retrieved 24 July 2024 – via fuel.tv.
  12. ^ a b Meronek, Rob. "Profiles and Bios: Yuto Horigome from Tokyo JPN". The Boardr. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  13. ^ Sullivan, Adam (21 July 2017). "Yuto Horigome Interview: Speak Softly, and Carry a Big Stick". Dew Tour. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  14. ^ "Yuto Horigome". Street League Skateboarding. Archived from the original on 25 July 2021. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  15. ^ Michele, Christoph (17 May 2019). "Yuto Horigome – April Skateboards Pro Part". Solo Skate Mag (in German). Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  16. ^ April Skateboards (24 June 2021). The Yuto show !. Retrieved 24 July 2024 – via YouTube.
  17. ^ "Worldskate - Skateboarding & Roller Sports - Results - OLYMPIC WORLD SKATEBOARDING RANKING". 30 July 2019. Archived from the original on 26 July 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  18. ^ "YUTO HORIGOME SKATER PROFILE". Skate Park of Tampa. 29 April 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  19. ^ "Japan Action Sports Awards 2017 受賞者決定！！". Japan Action Sports Association (in Japanese). 21 March 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  20. ^ "Japan Action Sports Awards 2018 受賞者決定！！！". Japan Action Sports Association. 22 March 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  21. ^ "DEW TOUR OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCES SUMMER 2022 SKATEBOARDING DATES AND RETURNS TO DES MOINES, IOWA". DewTour. 2022. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  22. ^ "X Games 2022 returns to California Results". XGames. 23 May 2022. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  23. ^ "World Street Skateboarding Rome 2022, 26 June - 3 July 2022 Results". Koobit. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  24. ^ Sanchez, Oswaldo (19 November 2019). "Winning Park and Street Olympic Qualifier Runs from Oi STU Open in Brazil". Dew Tour. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  25. ^ "Oi STU Open: the biggest skateboarding and urban culture event takes place from November 11th to 17th at Praça Duó". Skate Total Urbe. 11 November 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  26. ^ "SLS World Championship – Result List – Men's Super Crown Final". World Skate. 22 September 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  27. ^ "Yuto Horigome and Leticia Bufoni Top the Podium in Olympic Skateboarding Street International Open in Henan, China". Dew Tour. 6 September 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  28. ^ "International Skateboarding Open (ISO) - Street - Qingfeng, Henan, China 2019". BoardRiding.com. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  29. ^ "International Skateboarding Open – Street – Men Final Results". World Skate. 7 September 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  30. ^ "World Skate SLS Pro Tour – Men Open Qualifier Results". World Skate. 22 July 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  31. ^ "SLS World Tour: London – Result List – Men's Semifinal". World Skate. 25 May 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  32. ^ "Yuto Horigome skater profile. Online skate videos and video parts by Yuto Horigome. | Skatevideosite". skatevideosite.com.
  33. ^ Weiss, Bill (director) (2017). For Days (Skateboard promotional video). Blind Skateboards. Retrieved 10 August 2021 – via SkateVideoSite.
  34. ^ "UPDATE: Nike SB Releases Yuto Horigome's Pro Debut Part". SKATEnewswire (Press release). 16 May 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  35. ^ Perez, Kevin (director) (2019). Replay (Skateboard promotional video). April Skateboards. Retrieved 10 August 2021 – via SkateVideoSite.
  36. ^ "Yuto Horigome's "The Yuto Show" April Part". Thrasher Magazine. 24 June 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  37. ^ "Yuto Horigome's "Spitfire" Part". Thrasher Magazine. 1 December 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  38. ^ Nike SB | Yuto Horigome in Tokyo, 25 August 2023, retrieved 2 September 2023
  39. ^ "Yuto Horigome in Tokyo for Nike SB". thrashermagazine.com. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  40. ^ "April Skateboards' "Turbo Green" Video". Thrasher Magazine. 21 November 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  41. ^ "Yuto Horigome's "April" Part". Thrasher Magazine. 11 December 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
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