Margielyn Didal, who has seemingly taken a laid-back approach to her first Olympic debut, finishes 7th in the Women’s Street Skateboarding Prelims, which are stacked with excellent competitors from Brazil and host Japan.
Didal clung to seventh place out of 20 skaters with an outstanding run that saw her finish with a score of 12.02, securing her spot in the medal round at 11:25 AM, Manila time, later today at the Ariake Urban Sports Park in Tokyo, Japan.
Didal finished second in Heat 2 with a total score of 12.02, including 9.25 from tricks and 2.77 in her second run. Didal, who is ranked No. 17 in the world, finished third in her heat.
Despite slipping slightly in the next heats, she was still able to proceed.
Three skaters from host Japan will compete in the final, with Funa Nakayama and Momiji Nishiya in the top two positions with 15.77 and 15.40 points, respectively.
World No. 3 Aori Nishimura, who Didal competed against in Heat 2, ended up fifth with 12.82.
After World No. 1 Pamela Rosa fell off the wagon and finished 10th overall, Rayssa Leal is the lone Brazilian in the final.
Roos Zwetsloot of the Netherlands, Wenhui Zeng of China, and Alexis Sablone of the United States round out the Top 8.
“This is like a dream course, but with this weather, you kind of wish you were at the beach or in the water,” said Didal.
“Skateboarding’s not about how good or bad you’re skating, as long as you’re enjoying it,” she added.
“For this, the Olympics, the first one that will be in the history books, like there’s a lot of good competitors, but I’m just going to try to enjoy it and cherish every moment of this contest,” the Filipina further added.