Japan's Yuto Horigome competes in the men's street final during the Tokyo Olympics in Tokyo on Sunday. Photo: AFP

Japanese world champion Yuto Horigome held his nerve to be crowned skateboarding's first Olympic gold medalist, after winning a tense street competition in Tokyo on Sunday.

The 22-year-old, who grew up just a stone's throw from the Olympic venue, landed three huge tricks in a row to eclipse American favorite Nyjah Huston, who imploded to finish seventh.

In searing heat at Ariake Urban Sports Park, Horigome finished with scores of 9.35, 9.50 and 9.30 for a total of 37.18, with Brazil's Kelvin Hoefler second and US skater Jagger Eaton third.

"This is special because it was held in Koto City, where I was born," he said. "It's very meaningful and inspiring."

But there was disappointment for Huston, the much-hyped multiple world champion, who ended with four straight falls in the tricks section as he wound up second-last in the final.

Competition took place in front of rows of empty blue seats at the purpose-built arena, with fans barred from most Olympic events over the coronavirus.

It was the first of four gold medals to be handed out in skateboarding's Olympic debut, with women's street to be contested on Monday followed by the men's and women's park competitions.

"There's an extra pressure here," Huston said. "I've been skating pro ­contests for 15 years, but if you compare those to the Olympics there's no comparison."

Huston flirted with disaster in the heats, when he fell on his first run and botched his first two of five attempts at a one-off trick. 

But he fought back with a 9.13 and 8.96 to make the final in third place, with Horigome sixth.

In the final, Horigome had his head in his hands after a mistake on his first run, and the world number two fell twice in his second run before recovering his poise in the tricks section.