Chinese skateboarder Cui Chenxi participates in the competition. Photo: Li Hao

Chinese athlete Cui Chenxi placed fourth in the Women's Street Skateboarding finals at the Paris Olympics on Sunday, setting the best historical performance for the Chinese delegation in this sporting event.

In the finals, despite lower scores in the run section, Cui performed outstandingly in the trick section, securing fourth place with 241.56 points.

Cui expressed her gratitude after her first Olympics experience, saying there were many spectators at the Olympic venue, and almost everyone cheered after she completed her moves. "Hearing them cheer, I was very excited. It was really great to receive so much applause in my first Olympics," Cui said, reported the China News Service.

During the finals, she was once in the top three, but Brazilian skateboarder Rayssa Leal overtook her to win the bronze medal in the last round. Many felt sorry for her as she narrowly missed a medal on her first Olympic stage, but the 14-year-old young girl said, "There aren't too many regrets."
 
Cui started roller skating at the age of 3 and began skateboarding at the age of 10. 

After more than three years of practice, she gradually showed maturity and determination beyond her age. Last year, at the Hangzhou Asian Games Women's Street Skateboarding finals, Cui emerged as a star, winning the gold medal while becoming the youngest Asian Games champion in Chinese sports history. 

Before the national team selection, Cui suffered from a severe ankle sprain and lost a tooth, but she never complained. "If a trick can't be done, I'll practice another one first and come back to it after a few days. It might work then." She is considered the most stable performer among Chinese skateboarders, with no obvious weaknesses in either the run or the trick section.

Skateboarding made its return at the Paris Olympics, four years after the sport's debut at the Games and, this year, the sport is showcasing some of the games' youngest competitors as well as some celebrated veterans. 

The Chinese skateboarding team expanded its roster with three female athletes for this Olympics, including the other two Chinese athletes, Zhu Yuanling and Zeng Wenhui.

Another young competitor representing China is 13-year-old Zhu Yuanling. On August 6, the youngest member of the Chinese delegation, 11-year-old Zheng Haohao, will also compete in the Women's Park Skateboarding.

"I've already accomplished my goal by making it to the Olympics. My coach told me not to be too nervous and just to show up on the Olympic stage," Zhu said.

Global Times