TOKYO—Margielyn Didal ended her campaign in the Women’s Street Skateboarding Competitions with a seventh-place finish at the Ariake Urban Sports Park here on Monday.
Bothered by an ankle sprain, Didal scored just 7.52 in the finals, nearly just half the tally of eventual champion, 13-year-old Japanese wonderkind Nishiya Momiji, who won it all with a total score of 15.26.
After a successful landing during her second trick where she completed a nosegrind for a score of 2.97, Didal was limping at the end of the runs after her third trick.
“This is for the country. I’m really proud to represent the Philippines,” said the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games champion, who was still having fun despite hurting her knee and ankle following several spills during the preliminaries and the finals.
Brazil’s Rayssa Leal secured the silver with a 14.64 score, while another Japanese in Nakayama Funa bagged the bronze with a 14.49 total.
“We made it to the finals but we were not able to carry the flag on to the podium. We would like to thank the POC most especially Congressman (Abraham) Tolentino for doing everything to get us to our first Olympics, most especially cheering Margie on today to get us to the finals and looking out for us in all ways, always. So stoked, may Olympian skateboarder po tayo, Paris 2024 we coming at you!,” said Skateboard Pilipinas president Carl Sambrano.
Didal’s stint in the skateboarding finals was a feat in itself as the 22-year-old Cebuana even placed ahead of eliminated skaters Pamela Rosa, 2019 World Skate Championship in Brazil and 2013 X Games champion Leticia Bufoni.
Skateboarding is one of four sports making their debut in the quadrennial games, along with surfing, sport climbing and karate.