In the lead up to the Paris Olympics this summer, For The Win will help profile the stars competing on the world's biggest stage. In the 15 days leading up to the Opening Ceremony, we'll be profiling 15 athletes from Team USA. Up next is Nyjah Huston.
It was a very strange time for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics: the Games had already been postponed for a year due to the global pandemic.
On top of that, skateboarding had been added as one of the newest sports to the Olympics. It was all new, so I didn't go in with high expectations.
That being said, Nyjah Huston was considered the best skateboarder in the world heading into the Tokyo Olympics, but he finished without a medal.
For Houston, which was held in high esteem but failed to live up to expectations in the 2021 Games, the 2024 Paris Olympics could be a kind of revenge.
Here's everything you need to know about him ahead of this year's tournament.
1. Nooja Huston finished seventh at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics
(Photo by Sean M. Hafey/Getty Images)
Huston entered the 2021 Olympics as the No. 1 ranked skater in the world. Prior to Tokyo, at the World Championships, he had just missed out on the world No. 2, Yuto Horigome, in the men's street event by a few points with 36.75 points. He finished seventh in the event at the Olympics, missing out on a medal in his first appearance.
It was a stunning sight. Huston is arguably the greatest skater of her generation, with 14 world medals (eight gold, six silver) and has been competing at the highest level since she was seven years old.
There was a reason for such a steep decline from the best skater of his generation: Huston tore ligaments in his wrist just days before the Tokyo Olympics, which likely hindered his performance there.
But this year he's back and relatively healthy.
2. Houston had knee surgery in 2022.
Houston tore his ACL in August 2022 after scraping against a rail and taking an awkward fall. He had to undergo major knee surgery and was off his board for months, which Houston said was very tough for him. Associated Press.
“Usually the longest I can ride is a week or two, so having to take four or five months off was tough,” Houston said. “I wondered how I'd feel when I got back on my board and if I'd have the same confidence I had before. But I was so grateful for the freedom that riding my board gave me. If anything, it made me even more motivated to take care of my body and stay healthy for as long as possible.”
He spoke about the injury in this YouTube video and said he's been recovering for a while.
He was healthy enough to compete in the 2023 world championships and had also qualified for this year's Olympics in Budapest.
3. Houston remains extremely popular
Despite all the challenges he's faced over the past few years, Houston remains one of the most popular skaters in the world.
He has 5.1 million followers on Instagram and 500,000 subscribers on YouTube, and is one of the sport's most recognizable Nike athletes, having even released a signature shoe in collaboration with the brand.
4. He once skated in a Lamborghini
This has got to be one of the coolest things I've ever seen.
Crushing a Lamborghini is legendary.
5. Nyjah's Olympic journey begins on July 27
You can watch Houston and the rest of the skating action on July 27th at 6am ET.
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