Gold Coast teen, Arisa Trew has her eyes firmly set on Paris 2024 after an outstanding gold medal performance in the Women's Park Final at the Olympic Qualifier Series in Shanghai.
An impressive Trew led the way for the Aussies at the first Olympic Qualifier, with Tokyo gold medalist Keegan Palmer taking out silver with Kieran Woolley, Chloe Covell and Ruby Trew also achieving top eight placings to help their World Rankings as the Paris Olympic qualifiers heat up.
Trew’s second run (91.16) gave the fourteen-year-old her first podium in the Paris 2024 qualifying series and the win over Tokyo 2020 silver medallist and world number one Hiraki Kokona (90.18).
"I'm just really happy with how I went each day here and I'm really happy with the result I got today," said Trew.
“I guess my secret is just to try my best, to have fun and then just commit to everything in the competition,” she continued detailing the secrets behind her Olympic Qualifier win. “I just imagine that I’m still in the practice and I’m just having heaps of fun because skating is fun.”
“This has given me a massive boost for Paris. I would love to get to the Olympics, and I’d be so stoked to do it. I’d love to get into the final if I do get there."
“In Budapest I am going to do my best and land some solid runs and have heaps of fun. Hopefully I can get into the final and maybe another podium there which would be super cool, but I’m really just excited to compete there.”
Trew, said having competitors such as world number one Hiraki Kokona raised the bar each time.
“It’s really good having skaters like Kokona and all the other girls in the heat just pushing each other because it makes everyone land their runs and get more competitive, but in a really good environment because we’re all friends.”
In the Men's Park Final it came down to a nail biter finish with reigning Olympic Champion Keegan Palmer producing a 92.30 in his final round to edge out American Jagger Eaton for the silver medal. Fellow Australian Kieran Woolley finished fourth.
First in qualifying, Palmer fell on his first run while attempting a fakie to fakie five switch but still managed to collect a high score that put him in the Top 5. After an early fall on his second attempt, it all came down to the third run and he didn't disappoint with a complete trick-packed run to move onto the podium.
"I am beyond stoked, I can't believe it," Palmer said. "When you finally have a contest where you're not injured and you can give 110% it's awesome. While it was still a little sloppy I'll take it!"
"This gives me a lot of confidence that I can still do it. It's been a year and a half of injuries and having to pull out of contests, so this is great for the mental side of things."
OQS Shanghai is the first part of a two-legged knockout system which concludes in Budapest from 18-23 June.
At the completion of the Olympic Qualifier Series in Budapest, the top 20 athletes per discipline and per gender, with a maximum of three athletes per country, will be eligible for selection for Paris 2024. The Australian Team is able to take a total of 12 athletes from within the Top 20 (3 per discipline, per gender).
Following OQS Shanghai, Arisa Trew is currently sitting in second place in the Women's Park Olympic Rankings with Ruby Trew in 6th whilst Keegan Palmer is ranked fourth, Kieran Woolley 7th and Keefer Wilson 11th on the Men's side. In the Street event Chloe Covell is ranked 4th. For a full list of global rankings click here.
OQS SHANGHAI FINAL RESULTS:
Women’s Park Final:
Arisa Trew - 1st
Ruby Trew – 8th
Men’s Park Final:
Keegan Palmer – 2nd
Kieran Woolley – 4th
Women’s Street Final:
Chloe Covell - 8th
Image Credit: Simon Trew Photography
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