Teen Skater Hiraki Cocona Eyes Gold After Two Olympic Silvers

A teenager who won her first Olympic medal at 12 years old is now eyeing the ultimate prize as she trains for her third consecutive Games.

Hiraki Cocona captured silver in skateboarding at both Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, making her one of the sport's most consistent young stars. The 17-year-old from Hokkaido, Japan, started skating in what she describes as a "strikingly small bowl" on Japan's northernmost island, far from the concrete skateparks that define cities like Los Angeles.

Now she's representing LA in the new X Games League, competing for Club LA as she builds toward the 2028 Olympics. The city has become a second home for Hiraki, who says the atmosphere feels completely different from where she grew up.

"The vibe, the air, and even the sky just feels so much wider in LA," she told Olympics.com. It's fitting that she'll compete there in two years, chasing the gold medal that has eluded her twice.

Hiraki's journey shows remarkable growth. At her first Olympics in Tokyo, she was young and prone to panic when mistakes happened. By Paris, she had developed what she calls "a much more stable mindset" from skating in countless contests and different parks around the world.

The road to LA28 won't be easy. Japan dominates women's park skateboarding with six athletes in the world top 20, more than any other country. Hiraki ranks as Japan's second-highest skater, just behind world number one Hasegawa Mizuho.

Why This Inspires

What makes Hiraki's story so compelling isn't just her early success. It's watching a young athlete mature before our eyes, learning from each competition and building confidence along the way. She's entering her third Olympic cycle before turning 20, showing that persistence and growth matter just as much as raw talent.

Her goals are refreshingly honest. First, make Team Japan again amid fierce competition. Then, finally claim that elusive gold medal.

"I just want to take it one contest at a time and skate true to myself," Hiraki said, embodying the spirit of an athlete who's learned that the journey matters as much as the destination.