is a Japanese professional skateboarder and two-time Olympic champion. He won the gold medal in the inaugural Olympic men's street event at the 2020 Summer Olympics, becoming the first person to win gold in men's street skateboarding at the Summer Olympics. He defended his gold medal in the same event at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Early life Horigome along with his two younger brothers were born in Tokyo, Japan, to taxi driver and former street skateboarder Ryota Horigome. Ryota Horigome exposed his son Yuto to skateboarding before he could walk. At the age of seven Horigome was already frequenting Tokyo's Murasaki Sport's Park, better known as "Amazing Square" Skate Park. Horigome spent hours here practicing his tricks and honing his skills. By age 12 he knew his dream was to be a professional skater and continued to train relentlessly, encouraged by his heroes Mike Carroll, Gino Iannucci, Eric Koston, Guy Mariano, Shane O'Neill, and Paul Rodriguez.
Skateboarding career
Relocation At age 14, Horigome began traveling to the United States for skating trips and eventually moved to Los Angeles, California at age 16, where he currently resides. Due to his travel schedule, he attended high school from a virtual online school. When in the United States, Horigome stays with friends, including pro skateboarder Micky Papa, in Los Angeles, California. Horigome stays in the United States during the winter due to the cold season in Japan to continue practicing his tricks.
Early career California's thriving and vibrant skate culture empowered Horigome to continue practicing and entering skate contests. Horigome finished 2nd place in the Wild in the Parks hosted by Volcom and The Berrics. One year later he competed in the Tampa Am Saturday qualifiers finishing in first place. Horigome began to make a name for himself, becoming renowned for his tricks involving rails and large gaps. While in Los Angeles, In 2015, Horigome filmed some skating parts alongside Canadian skateboarder Micky Papa, who was sponsored by Blind Skateboards. Horigome joined the Blind Skateboards team later that year and stayed with the team until January 2019.
Horigome made his professional Street League Skateboarding (SLS) debut in May 2017, at the championship in Barcelona. Horigome came in third place for a bronze medal at the age of 18, as the youngest of the three medalists. One year later Horigome found himself once again on the podium in London, Los Angeles and Huntington Beach, California, this time winning gold in all three competitions and making history as the first Japanese athlete to win first place in an SLS championship. Horigome also found himself coming first place in the Dew Tour, in front of renowned skater Kelvin Hoefler, with his skate film still available online.
In May 2019, Horigome joined April Skateboards, owned by pro skater Shane O'Neill. Later that same year Horigome further proved himself by winning two gold medals and a bronze at the X Games competitions in Shanghai and Minneapolis. April continued to help Horigome in putting himself on the map coming out with a skate tape titled The Yuto Show!, which showcased his skateboarding abilities in a 3 minute long video. Horigome finished 2019 by winning silver against three time reigning champ Nyjah Huston at the São Paulo World Championship.
Approaching the Olympics Approaching the 2020 Summer Olympics, Horigome ranked second in men's street on the World Skate (WS) World Skateboarding Olympic Rankings in June 2019, with 62,480 points. At that time, American Nyjah Huston topped the men's street rankings with 67,080 points.
As the 2020 Olympic Games were postponed for a year and the number of skateboarding events in 2020 was significantly reduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the WS Olympic Rankings for June 2021 included points earned from events in the 1 January–30 September 2019 season and the 1 October 2019 – 30 June 2021 season. In the 2021 Skate World Championship Horigome managed to take home the gold over Nyjah Huston, but Horigome remained in second place, with 249,200 points, behind Huston's 269,900 points in the Olympic Rankings.
Tokyo Olympic Games and beyond At the 2020 Olympic Games Horigome displayed one of the best performances of his career receiving 9.03, 9.30, 9.35 and an astounding 9.50 on his finishing nollie backside 270 totaling to a combined score of 37.18. Winning the first ever gold medal for Olympic Skateboarding in his hometown of Tokyo solidified Horigome as one of the top skateboarders in the world.
After the Olympics, Horigome went on to win gold in X Games Chiba, which was the first X Games held in Japan. Since the X Games Chiba, Horigome has gone on to win gold in two more X Games over rivals Braden Hoban and Nyjah Huston. Horigome continues to break records recently becoming the first Japanese skater to win the Tampa Pro (skateboard competition).
Sponsorships As of August 2024, Horigome is sponsored by Seiko, Nike SB, April Skateboards, Hardies Hardware, Venture, Spitfire, Mixi, Murasaki, Rakuten, Lipovitan, Louis Vuitton, Supreme (brand), Delta Air Lines. Horigome is often seen as the face of skateboarding in Japan helping to increase its popularity in his home country with the help of massive Japanese ecommerce and media company Rakuten even creating and competing in Japan's own Uprising Tokyo Street Skateboarding Competition. Japan's own watch company Seiko also came out with a limited edition watch in collaboration with Horigome. Nike has also come out with a Nike Dunk with a colorway customized by Horigome in honor of his home ward in Tokyo.
Honors Horigome was named "Skater of the Year" at the Japan Action Sports Awards in 2017 and 2018.
Contest history This list contains top pro tour, 5-star, and world championship events in which Horigome has participated; it is not an exhaustive list. EventHost cityVenueDateEntrantsDisciplineRank2024 Summer OlympicsParis (France)Place de La Concorde (La Concorde 3)22StreetWST Tokyo Street (2023 World Championship)Tokyo (Japan)Ariake Coliseum8StreetWST Lausanne StreetLausanne (Switzerland)Beaulieu Lausanne8Street5thStreet League SkateboardingTokyo (Japan)Ariake Arena6StreetX GamesVentura (US)Ventura County Fairgrounds8Street8Best TrickUprising TokyoTokyo (Japan)Ariake Arena10StreetTampa ProTampa (US)Skatepark of Tampa12StreetStreet League SkateboardingSeattle (US)Angel of the Winds Arena8StreetDew TourDes Moines (US)Lauridsen Skatepark12Street12Best TrickX GamesSouthern California (US)Brooklyn Rail10Real Street Best TrickCA Training Facility10Street10Street Best Trick8thStreet League SkateboardingJacksonville (US)VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena8StreetWorld Street Skateboarding 2022Rome (Italy)Parco del Colle Oppio8Street8thTampa ProTampa (US)Skatepark of Tampa12Street11thX GamesChiba (Japan)ZOZO Marine Stadium15Street2020 Summer OlympicsTokyo (Japan)Ariake Urban Sports Park20Street2021 Street World ChampionshipRome (Italy)Foro Italico32StreetDew TourDes Moines (US)Lauridsen Skatepark32StreetOi STU OpenRio de Janeiro (Brazil)Skatepark da Praça Duó31Street5thSLS Super CrownRio de Janeiro (Brazil)Pavilhão de Exposições Anhembi8StreetISO HenanHenan (China)Qingfeng Extreme Sports Base8StreetX Games Minneapolis 2019Minneapolis (US)U.S. Bank Stadium10Street9Street Best TrickSLS World Tour 2019Los Angeles (US)Galen Center75StreetX GamesShanghai (China)Shanghai International Resort10StreetSLS World Tour 2019London (UK)Copper Box Arena104Street9thSLS World ChampionshipRio de Janeiro (Brazil)Carioca Arena 18StreetStreet League SkateboardingHuntington Beach (US)Vans Off The Wall Skatepark8StreetWorld Skateboarding ChampionshipNanjing (China)Longjiang Skatepark8Park6thX GamesSydney (Australia)Sydney Showground10Street5thCPH OPENBerlin (Germany)Berlin Skatehalle11StreetX Games Minneapolis 2018Minneapolis (US)U.S. Bank Stadium8Street4thStreet League SkateboardingLos Angeles (US)Galen Center8StreetDew TourLong Beach (US)Long Beach Convention Center8StreetStreet League SkateboardingLondon (UK)Copper Box Arena8StreetX GamesOslo (Norway)Telenor Arena8Street4thTampa ProTampa (US)Skatepark of Tampa12Street10thX Games Minneapolis 2017Minneapolis (US)U.S. Bank Stadium10Street9thStreet League SkateboardingMunich (Germany)Olympic Park8StreetDew TourLong Beach (US)Long Beach Convention Center6StreetStreet League SkateboardingBarcelona (Spain)Skate Agora8StreetOi STU OPENRio de Janeiro (Brazil)Skatepark da Praça Duó3StreetCowtown's PHXAMPhoenix (US)Desert West Skateboard Plaza12StreetSimple SessionTallinn (Estonia)Saku Suurhall63StreetTampa AmTampa (US)Skatepark of Tampa12Street4thFISE World SeriesChengdu (China)South Park12StreetDamn Am Woodward WestTehachapi (US)Woodward West Skatepark12Street8th
Videography
2017: For Days - Blind 2019: April Skateboards Pro Part - Nike SB 2021: The Yuto show ! - April Skateboards 2021: Spitfire - Thrasher 2023: Yuto Horigome in Tokyo - Nike SB 2023: Turbo Green - April Skateboards 2023: April - Thrasher
References
External links
Yuto Horigome at World Skate (alternative link) Yuto Horigome at The Boardr Yuto Horigome at SPoT