MESA, Ariz. — Three years ago, Arizona's own Jagger Eaton brought home one of the first-ever Olympic medals in skateboarding, when he won bronze in Men's street in Tokyo.
Now, he will get the chance to not only defend his medal, but possibly improve on it after clinching a spot in the 2024 Olympics in Paris at the Olympic Qualifier Series in Budapest.
Eaton will skate in Men's Street once again, but his hopes of winning two medals was denied after he was beaten out for the final US spot in Men's Park by 24-year-old Tom Schaar at the Olympic Qualifier Series.
Eaton had been ranked in the top three American skaters in both the park and street disciplines and he would have been the first skateboarder to compete in both events in the Olympics.
Eaton did not advance to the park final in Budapest and Scharr finished second and leaped over Eaton in the rankings.
Both the park and street events allow for a maximum of three athletes from each National Olympic Committee. France, as the host country, is guaranteed at least one spot in each event, and every continent is allowed to send at least one skater. This rule is in place to help increase the number of nations participating.
Eaton, who is 23-years-old, grew up in Mesa, starting his skating career at KidsThatRip, or KTR.
"I'll never be able to thank my family enough for building this place for me, look at it, it's a sanctuary," Eaton told 12News in 2023. "I think what really called me to it, was the freedom of it, the fact that I could do it anywhere."
That freedom will be on display at the base of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Prelims and the medal round for Men's Street will be held on July 27.
Arizona sports
The city of Phoenix is home to four major professional sports league teams; The NFL's Arizona Cardinals, NBA's Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Cardinals have made State Farm Stadium in Glendale their home turf and the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix is home to both the Suns and the Mercury. The Indoor Football League’s Arizona Rattlers play at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale.
Phoenix also has a soccer team with the USL's Phoenix Rising FC, who play at Phoenix Rising FC Stadium in Phoenix.
The Valley hosts multiple major sporting events every year, including college football's Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl; the PGA Tour’s highest-attended event, the WM Phoenix Open; NASCAR events each spring and fall, including Championship Weekend in November; and Cactus League Spring Training for 15 Major League Baseball franchises.
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