- Fans set fire to skate events at Olympics
- Others wondered about the lack of helmets.
A sporting event at the Paris 2024 Games has been widely criticised by Australian viewers, with many questioning how it became an Olympic sport in the first place while criticising the quality of the action on offer.
Skateboarding, which made its debut at the 2020 Olympics, took a beating from spectators on Monday night (AEST).
Australian Shane O’Neill, 34, has withdrawn from the men’s Street Skateboarding event, finishing last in his heat and ending his chances of a medal.
For many of those watching from home, it was their first experience with the sport, and many were left scratching their heads.
“Just watched half an hour of skateboarding at the #Olympics,” one fan began her tweet.
‘Some 35 participants attempted to perform tricks and 32 of them failed.
‘They could have held this competition in the Coles car park in West Leederville and seen more tricks completed.
‘What am I seeing?’
Fans have criticised the skateboarding events at the Paris Olympics after tuning in to watch Australia’s Shane O’Neill (pictured) squander his chance of a medal on Monday night.
Some fans wondered how skateboarding became an Olympic sport while complaining about the quality of the competition.
Many viewers thought the same.
“I had the same experience. I didn’t get excited or anything. I felt like a bunch of kids hanging out in a parking lot trying to do a trick every now and then,” one X user responded.
“That’s exactly what I think. This is why it shouldn’t be an Olympic sport,” replied a third.
“Yes, unfortunately it’s an atrocious addition to the Olympic landscape,” posted another.
“Of course! The 10-year-olds at the local skatepark do more tricks,” said another.
Other spectators expressed disappointment at the absence of helmets at skate events.
One angry viewer posted: “I was furious with the young girls not wearing helmets last night and the Australian girl not wearing hers properly. How is safety equipment not a rule? The little kids at home watching the Australian girl wearing the helmet went ballistic and said ‘I hit my head’.”
That viewer was referring to 14-year-old Chloe Covell, who was involved in some harrowing scenes during her runs at the street event on Monday.
It turns out that helmets in Street Skateboarding are mandatory only for those athletes under 18 years of age.
Helmets are mandatory for everyone competing in “park” events.
However, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban were impressed with the action when they watched 14-year-old Australian skateboarder Chloe Covell compete at the Olympics on Sunday.
The couple were joined by their daughters Sunday Rose, 16, and Faith Margaret, 13, for the emotional occasion.
Other fans had concerns about athletes not wearing helmets or securing them properly, but the rules state that only competitors under 18, such as Australia’s Chloe Covell (pictured), have to wear the protective gear.
As ever proud Aussies, Keith and Nicole were caught up in the excitement of the event, at one point standing up to cheer on the promising Australian skater.
Covell was competing in the medal round of the women’s street skate finals, but was left heartbroken when she missed out on the medals in the street skate event.
The 14-year-old finished last in the medal round on Sunday at the Concorde skate park in central Paris and at one point cried as she repeatedly fell.