Several Aussies impressed in Rome
World Street Pro Tour Rome 2022: The First World Skate Olympic Qualification event towards selection for Paris 2024 went down on 26 June - 3 July when the World Street Pro Tour came to Rome. The field was packed with experienced competition skaters and young talent booming through. Australia was represented by Shane O’Neil, Tommy Fynn and Rome Collyer in the men’s division and Liv Lovelace, Chloe Covell and Hayley Powell in women’s.
Chloe Covell with a massive kickflip. Photo by Norma Ibarra @Lapir0
Rome in the middle of summer is brutally hot and it didn’t make the tough open qualifiers any easier on the hundreds of skaters from all over the world. Yet, it might have given the Aussies a slight advantage and Hayley Powell, Chloe Covell, Shane O’Neil and Tommy Fynn all made it through to the quarter finals with a total of 32 athletes in each division.
Haylie Powell with a boardslide. Photo by Norma Ibarra @Lapir0
Tommy Fynn with a backside noseblunt. Photo by Davide Biondani
The quarters cut the field down to 16 athletes and only Chloe Covell and Shane O’Neil made it through to the semis.
All athletes had two runs and 5 best trick attempts where the best run combined with the two best trick scores counted towards the final result. This is a change since the Olympics in Japan where the skaters had to achieve 4 best scores regardless of it being run or trick scores. This new format was a pleasure to watch as the athletes stepped up their runs with flow, technicality and high difficulty.
All Aussie eyes on Chloe Covell
The semis were wild and as the youngest competitor in the comp Chloe just made the cut for the finals - as the only Australian skater in Rome.
Tommy Fynn, who coaches a bunch of the most talented young skaters back home in Australia incl. Chloe, was on the side line to support the young prodigy going into the best tricks.
“He told me to do a trick that I know I can land and then just go for it,” Chloe told a reporter after the semis.
She played it smart and it sure payed off.
Chloe Covell in the semis with a switch boardslide down the big rail. Photo by Davide Biondani @davide_biondani
Sportswomanship right there. Rayssa Leal and Chloe Covell. Photo by Davide Biondani @davide_biondani
Finals
With 2 flawless runs Chloe kicked off the finals with style and confidence. Her impressive second run included heavy tricks like switch flip, kicky front board, 50-50 on the massive rail and switch front board and it was rewarded. Going into the best trick section Chloe was at the top of the leaderboard!
Let’s just repeat that, shall we. 12-year-old Chloe Covell had the best run in the World Street Pro Tour finals.
With three solid tricks Chloe got some good scores down in the best tricks, but just missed the switch flip she was going for in her two last attempts. In the end the podium spots were taken by a talented Japanese team that kept throwing down new, increasingly difficult tricks.
Chloe placed 7 in the final of the first Olympic street skateboarding Qualifier in Rome 2022.
What an achievement!
Warm ups. Photo by Norma Ibarra @Lapir0
Julie Covell giving her daughter a hug after a massive effort in the final. Photo by Norma Ibarra @Lapir0
Chloe’s supportive mum, Julie was there to give her daughter a cuddle and after the comp we were lucky enough to get a comment from Julie about this wild Italian ride for Chloe and the entire Covell family:
“It was a great experience for Chlo in Rome & I was happy to be there to support her in her journey at a young age of 12. Each stage got harder but Chlo made it to the finals battling it out & feeling the pressure at times, but was so nice to see other athletes encouraging Chlo to lift her spirits when she needed it.
She did however score the highest women’s run score in finals & landed some big solid tricks in best trick section but just not enough to get to podium this time.
She held her emotions & composure like a true champion congratulating the other athletes but just needed that hug & support from mum when she walked away from a dream in her story that’s just starting. ”
Haylie Powell and Julie Covell with support for Chloe after the final. Photo by Norma Ibarra @Lapir0
A huge congratulations to Chloe, her family and the rest of the Australian skaters who all killed it in Rome. We can’t wait to follow everyone on their quest for Paris 2024.
World Street Pro Tour Rome 2022 Results
Men’s
Nyjah Huston (USA) 279.43
Aurelien Giraud (FRA) 275.96
Gustavo Ribeiro (POR) 261.40
Matias Dell Olio (ARG) 255.40
Mauro Iglesias (ARG) 255.40
Vincent Milou (FRA) 247.39
Ryan Decenzo (CAN) 238.26
Horigome Yuto (JPN) 169.39
Women’s
Nakayama Funa (JPN) 264.13
Nishiya Momiji (JPN) 255.64
Oda Yumeka (JPN) 254.91
Akama Rizu (JPN) 254.62
Rayssa Leal (BRA) 247.69
Yoshizawa Coco (JPN) 242.51
Chloe Covell (AUS) 230.59
Pamela Rosa (BRA) 205.80
[More photos below]
The Road to Paris 2024
On “The Road to Paris 2024” the skaters are gathering points for their “Olympic World Skateboarding Ranking” (OSWR). Several competitions will be taken into account in the OWSR.
• World Championship
• Olympic Qualifying Series
• Pro Tour
• ‘5-Star’ events
• ‘3-Star’ events
The next Olympic Qualifying events are:
2 October - 9 October 2022: Rio World Skate Park World Championships 2022 - Rio De Janeiro (BRA)
9 October - 16 October 2022: Rio World Skate Street World Championships 2022 - Rio De Janeiro (BRA)
Stay tuned as we dig more into the details of the qualification process for you all!
Gallery Rome 2022
Colosseum as a backdrop for the comp. Can’t get any better. Photo by Norma Ibarra @Lapir0
Haylie, Chloe and the bronze medalist Oda Yumeka JPN watching the action. Photo by Norma Ibarra @Lapir0
Chloe Covell. Photo by Norma Ibarra @Lapir0
Chloe Covell. Photo by Norma Ibarra @Lapir0
Chloe with a 50-50 grind. Photo by Norma Ibarra @Lapir0
Haylie Powell with a boardslide. Photo by Norma Ibarra @Lapir0
Haylie with a front smith. Photo by Norma Ibarra @Lapir0
Shane O’neill in the warm ups for the Open Qualifier. Photo by Norma Ibarra @Lapir0
Chloe Covell. Photo by Norma Ibarra @Lapir0
A happy Japanese Crew. Photo by Norma Ibarra @Lapir0
Aurelien Girau FRA was impressing everyone with his mad hardflip late flips. Here he is with a tre. Photo by Jeremiah Arias @Jerarias_
Nyjah Huston Photo by Jeremiah Arias @Jerarias_
Finals meeting. Nyjah Huston, Shane O’neil and Yuto. Photo by Norma Ibarra @Lapir0
Rayssa Leal and Chloe Covell. Photo by Norma Ibarra @Lapir0
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