Young athletes have left a huge impression at Tokyo 2020 Olympics, know about the youngest medal winners at the event
From preteens – to teenagers – to young adults, they all shone like a bright star and dominated every sport at the Games. As lots of youngsters won medals, here we present you the ten youngest medalists at the Games
The ten youngest medal winners at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics are all females ranging from as young as 12 to 16-year-old.
List of the 10 Youngest Medal Winners at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics
Kokona Hiraki, 12 – Japan
Skateboarding – Women’s Park
The only 12-year-old, Kokona Hiraki is the youngest medalist at the Tokyo Olympics after she claimed the silver medal at the women’s park event in style with the best score of 59.04 in the final.
At 12 years and 343 days, the skateboarder also became her country’s youngest-ever Olympic medalist. Hiraki began skateboarding at the age of 5 and was influenced by her mother, a fan of the sport.
Sky Brown, 13 – Great Britain
Skateboarding – Women’s Park
The British-Japanese skateboarder won a bronze medal in style with her best score of 56.47 on the final run in the women’s park event at the Tokyo Games. The teen began skateboarding as young as three-year-old under her father’s guidance.
Sky Brown represented Great Britain at this Olympics and the age of 13 years and 28 days became the youngest person to win an Olympic medal in Great Britain’s history.
Rayssa Leal, 13 – Brazil
Skateboarding – Women’s Street
The other 13-year-old in this list is Rayssa Leal as she took silver scoring 14.64 in the women’s street final and became her country’s youngest Olympic medalist.
The Brazilian is fondly called ‘Fadinha’ or ‘Little Fairy’ as she gained attention on the internet, age 7 when a video of her skating and successfully attempting a heelflip in a fairy dress was shared by legend Tony Hawk. Fast-forward to 2021, Tony Hawk was present when Rayssa Leal won the historic silver medal in the first-ever women’s street skateboarding event at the Olympics.
Momiji Nishiya, 13 – Japan
Skateboarding – Women’s Street
Born in 2007, the Japanese skateboarder clinched a gold medal in the women’s street event as skateboarding made its official debut at the Olympics in the 2020 edition held in Tokyo, Japan.
The teenage sensation scored 15.26 in the final and became Japan’s youngest Olympic champion ever. The 13-year-old shone throughout her performance with showcasing her amazing tricks and runs which left everyone in awe at the Ariake Urban Sports Park. Aged 13 years and 330 days, Momiji Nishiya is the youngest to win a gold medal at this Olympics.
Quan Hongchan, 14 – China
Diving – Women’s 10m Platform
The teenage diver, born in 2007 won the gold medal in the 10m platform event with a total point of 466.20, that breaking the previous Olympic record of 447.70. At 14, she was China’s youngest athlete at the Tokyo Olympics; Quan started diving at age seven. Quan Hongchan earned a score of perfect 10 from all seven judges for two of her dives in the final at Tokyo Aquatics Centre.
Chen Yuxi, 15 – China
Diving – Women’s Synchronised 10m Platform & Women’s 10m Platform
Born in 2005, the 15-year-old won two medals at Tokyo Games; gold in the 10m synchronized platform along with Zhang Jiaqi, 17, and silver in women’s individual 10m platform. Chen Yuxi took up the sport at age four. Chen and Zhang clinched gold with total points 363.78, fifty more points than second-placed USA’s Jessica Parratto and Delaney Schnell. She won silver in the women’s 10m platform with 425.40 total points behind teammate Quan Hongchan.
Funa Nakayama, 16 – Japan
Skateboarding – Women’s Street
The skateboarder hailing from Toyama, Japan won the bronze medal in the inaugural women’s street competition at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Funa Nakayama bagged third place with a total score of 14.49 in the final held on 26 July 2021 at the Ariake Urban Sports Park.
On the podium, Nakayama, 16, was the oldest as the other medalists were two 13-year-olds as mentioned above in this article.
Viktoriia Listunova, 16 – Russian Olympic Committee (ROC)
Artistic Gymnastics – Women’s Team
At 16, the Russian gymnast would have been too young to compete at the Games had it taken place last year as scheduled; she shone like a star in the team event final as her team consisting of Lilia Akhaimova, Angelina Melnikova, and Vladislava Urazova clinched gold with a stunning performance.
The team representing the Russian Olympic Committee scored 169.528, three points more than the USA – the silver medalists. Listunova performed on three apparatus; the bars, beam and floor except for vault.
Jessica & Jennifer Gadirova, 16 – Great Britain
Artistic Gymnastics – Women’s Team
The British twins are artistic gymnasts who won a historic bronze medal in the women’s team event in Tokyo. Along with teammates Alice Kinsella and Amelie Morgan they finished at 3rd place and clinched Great Britain’s first Olympic medal in women’s gymnastics team in 93 years.
A first women's team medal in 93 years!! 🥉
What a performance from @AliceKinsella16, @ameliemorgan1, @JessicaGadirova & @JenGadirova#TeamGB pic.twitter.com/s5HZPTSbhr
— Team GB (@TeamGB) July 27, 2021
Guan Chenchen, 16 – China
Artistic Gymnastics – Women’s Balance Beam
Hailing from China’s Hubei province, the 16-year-old artistic gymnast earned her first Olympic medal as she won gold in the women’s balance beam event at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre.
The youngest gymnast in the Chinese contingent secured her top spot in the final with a score of 14.633 and became the third Chinese gymnast to win a gold medal in this event. The silver and bronze medals went to China’s Tang Xijing and USA’s Simone Biles respectively in the final held on 3 August 2021.
As per the International Olympic Committee, “There is no specific age limit for taking part in the Olympic Games.” And that the age restriction depends on each International Sports Federation and its rules of their respective sports. Hence there is no minimum age limit at the Olympics.