In 1936, Danish Inge Sörensen took bronze in the 200 meter breaststroke at the Berlin Olympics, only 12 years and 24 days old.
So young medalists have been happy with their absence until this Olympics, when a couple of medals have been taken by really young athletes.
12 years and 343 days
Last week, for example, Momiji Nishiya won gold in the ladies’ street, 13 years and 330 days.
But today, when it was time for another skateboard discipline (park), the silver was taken by an even younger skater: Kokona Hiraki. The Japanese is only 12 years and 343 days old – the youngest Olympic medalist since the Berlin Olympics, according to several foreign media.
– I’m glad I got a medal. I really enjoyed today’s competition. I just focused on my competition and did not think much about what the others did, says Hiraki, according to the official The Olympic website.
Near Japanese triple
And also the bronze medalist, the British Sky Brown, has the future ahead of him. When she passed the Japanese world setter Misugu Okamoto with her last ride, she was only 13 years and 28 days old, and is thus (apart from Hiraki) the youngest medalist since 1936. Okamoto fell with only a few seconds left of her last ride, and failed thus securing a Japanese triple.
– That was unbelievable. It still feels like a dream. It’s crazy. I’m so happy and grateful and proud of all the other girls too, says Brown, who was in tears after his ride.
19-year-old winner
The gold medalist then? Well, Japan’s Sakura Yosozumi is 19 years old.
– I did not do my best performance, but I am glad that I managed to take a gold medal. I’m glad I won the first ever Olympic competition in the park. I have no regrets, and have trained so hard, and I think it led to the results, says Yosozumi to Japan Times.
The absolute youngest Olympic medalist of all time is the Greek Dimitrios Loundras. The gymnast was only 10 years and 218 days old when he was part of the team that took bronze at the 1896 Olympics.
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