By Sean Miyaguchi,
American street skateboarding superstar Nyjah Huston has credited Japanese Olympic champion Yuto Horigome for raising the sport's level of competition following their latest battle in Tokyo.
The 28-year-old Huston placed third in the inaugural Tokyo round of the Street League Skateboarding championship Saturday at Ariake Arena, where Horigome claimed the title with a dazzling display in front of his home crowd.
Huston, who is still working his way back from ACL surgery roughly a year ago, said the 24-year-old Horigome had set a new benchmark with his high-scoring performance at the premier professional street skateboarding circuit's first event in Asia.
"That was probably the best I've ever seen him skate," Huston said. "The dude just keeps getting better. It's insane."
The American said he and the rest of the sport's elite relished competing against the Japanese star, who won skateboarding's first Olympic gold medal a short distance from Saturday's venue.
"It's always a good battle with that guy. He definitely is pushing me to progress my skating, and I feel like he does that to everyone. He's always out there bringing new tricks," Huston said. "He keeps bringing the level up and up, and that's what skateboarding is all about."
Huston, who was seventh in the Tokyo Games men's street competition after coming in as favorite for the gold, said he was making strong progress coming back from surgery and was focused on competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics and beyond.
"I've still got at least a few more solid years left in me, so I'll make the most of it," he said. "I love skating every contest. The Olympics is obviously a different level (but) I'm always stoked to go out there and compete."
Related coverage:
Skateboarding: Olympic champ Horigome wins Tokyo Street League round
Skateboarding: Yuto Horigome wins street, 2nd gold at X Games California
Skateboarding: Yuto Horigome wins best trick at X Games California
