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Then soon after, 18-year-old Keegan Palmer bagged gold in the men's park skateboarding with a score of 95.83 in the final to finish top of the podium.<\/p>\n
The blitz took Australia's gold medal tally at the Tokyo Olympics<\/a> to 17 to equal the nation's best-ever Games gold haul from Athens in 2004.<\/p>\n The win by Van der Westhuyzen and Green continued their hot form, coming a day after they smashed the previous Olympic best time set by Italy at Atlanta in 1996.<\/p>\n It was a stunning result given it was the first time Australia had won OIympic gold in the event in its 85-year history.<\/p>\n The pair were ecstatic, jumping into the water to continue their celebrations.<\/p>\n Van der Westhuyzen, originally from South Africa, was full of pride afterwards.<\/p>\n "I wouldn't want to represent any other country. I'm so proud to be an Australian," said van der Westhuyzen.<\/p>\n "Just the way everyone has backed me, and supported me, and welcomed me – it's home for me. I absolutely love this country. I'm so grateful for everything."<\/p>\n Van der Westhuyzen said yesterday that because the COVID-19 pandemic had preventing a lot of international meets being held over the past 18 months, they weren't sure how they would stack up.<\/p>\n They found out in emphatic fashion at the Sea Forest Waterway.<\/p>\n Palmer, meanwhile, became the first man to win the men's park skateboarding event as the sport is making its Olympic debut in Tokyo.<\/p>\n The Aussie's score of 95.83 was well ahead of his rivals, with Brazil's Pedro Barros (86.14) claiming silver and the USA's Cory Juneau (84.13) bronze.<\/p>\n Palmer dominated the final, his best two rides both good enough to win gold – when one was all he needed – as the teenager became the youngest Australian to win a medal in Tokyo.<\/p>\n Palmer was born in the USA, raised in Australia and now lives in San Diego.<\/p>\n Australia are in a solid position to grab more gold, with the Kookaburras playing Belgium in the final of the men's hockey tournament tonight and beach volleyballers Mariafe Artacho del Solar and Taliqua Clancy qualifying for the final<\/a>.<\/p>\n For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by<\/em><\/strong> clicking here<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n
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