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The men’s street skateboarding semi-finals at World Skate Games Italia 2024 were a day of both experience and surprise. Colombian skater JC Gonzalez, known for his creative trick selection, stole the show with a top score of 252.53, securing the coveted final position of going last.
Following a rain delay on Thursday, the 27-year-old Olympian impressed in heat two with a high-scoring second run of 80.00 (third best in the competition). This set the stage for his final five tricks, where he landed an impressive 82.52 and a show-stopping 90.01.
The latter trick, a frontside feeble to front grind on the long rail, had the crowd erupt in applause for its technical brilliance. Gonzalez’s performance cemented his position as a favorite for the finals.
But Gonzalez wasn’t the only skater turning heads. A young contender emerged in the form of 14-year-old Dutch skater Tijmen Overbeek, currently ranked a surprising 188th in the World Skateboarding Rankings. Overbeek continued his dream run by securing a spot in the finals with a total score of 244.55. This impressive performance landed him third place, just a hair’s breadth (0.33 points) behind Argentinian skater Matias Dell Olio.
The finals will also see the return of familiar faces. Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medalist Kelvin Hoefler of Brazil and Paris 2024 finalist Richard Tury of Slovakia both advanced, bringing their experience and skill to the table. Additionally, Tommy Fynn (AUS), Kristoffer Kroon (SWE), and Sasaki Toa (JPN) rounded out the top seven, securing their spots in the final showdown.
The highly anticipated finals will be streamed live on the Olympic Channel via Olympics.com and the official Olympics mobile app in select territories. Fans can witness the women’s finals kicking off at 18:15 (UTC+2), followed by the men’s finals later in the afternoon/evening.
This year’s World Skate Games showcase the ever-evolving world of skateboarding. From seasoned veterans like Gonzalez and Hoefler to the unexpected rise of young talents like Overbeek, the competition promises to be a thrilling display of athleticism and creativity.
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Additional Information:
- Removed unnecessary repetition of “Colombian JC Gonzalez” and “World Skate Games Italia 2024”.
- Streamlined information about the scoring system and rankings.
- Maintained focus on the key points: Gonzalez’s performance, Overbeek’s surprise, and the upcoming finals.
- Provided details on how to watch the finals.
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