Skateboarding made its Olympic debut (首次亮相) at the Tokyo Olympics. Born in California in the 1950s, skateboarding is considered more of a lifestyle than a sport. Skateboarding doesn’t quite fit into any traditional sports box. But its presence at the Tokyo Olympics brought a great sense of playfulness and individuality to the sport world’s biggest stage.
Skateboarding presents so many more options than people typically have in sports. In this way, skateboarding is nearly impossible to define. But ask a skater at any level what skating means to them, and you’ll get a similar answer: What attracted them to the sport was freedom and creativity, not competition or being the best.
Every skateboarder has their own unique style. There are no rules in skateboarding no standards, no fixed structure—even at the Olympics. According to Mimi Knoop, professional skateboarder and head coach for the US Olympic skateboard team, judges score the athletes based on trick progression, difficulty level and originality.
“We don’t have points for certain tricks because we want to stay away from that to keep it a little more creative,” Knoop said
If you watched the Olympics, the way the skateboarders interacted (互动) with each other was often quite different from other athletes. Competitors at some events, like gymnastics or swimming, typically kept a certain distance from their competitors. But skateboarders were enjoying each other’s company and lifting each other up.
Sports agent Yulin Olliver said, “Skateboarding as a sport and lifestyle is self-sufficient (自立的). There’s no need for coaches, teams or organized competitions. Those things exist in skateboarding, of course, but not out of necessity. As long as there are individuals who skateboard and find joy in doing so, the culture of skateboarding will remain strong.”
“It’s almost like the Olympics needed skateboarding.” Olliver said, “not the other way around.”
8. What may the culture of skateboarding be based on?
A.Joy and individuality. | B.The purpose of winning. |
C.Interaction and teamwork. | D.The demand for a new lifestyle |
9. How could a skateboarder get high scores at the Tokyo Olympics?
A.By presenting professional skills. |
B.By staying away from certain tricks |
C.By performing difficult original tricks. |
D.By focusing on the whole effect instead of details. |
10. What may skateboarders do when competing with others?
A.Cooperate with their competitors. |
B.Absorb every detail of their competitors. |
C.Pay attention to their competitors’ coaches. |
D.Keep a certain distance from their competitors. |
11. What does a good skateboarder need most according to Yulin Olliver?
A.Team spirit. | B.Great interest. |
C.Professional coaching. | D.An outgoing personality. |