Keegan Palmer victorious as Tom Schaar seizes the moment in an epic men’s park final at the Olympic Qualifier Series Budapest

Tom Schaar had not yet attempted his final run, but the celebrations had already begun.

The US park skateboarder made it to the men’s final. Olympic Qualification Series (OQS) Budapest with only one job: Finish better than third place.

He overtook Jagger Eaton in the Olympic World Ranking, be among the top three figure skaters from the USA and secure a NOC quota place* for the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

It was a tall order. In a race where the best skateboarders in the park are pushing each other for every inch, every wheel and every corner, Schaar had to give it his all. After mixed results on the road to Paris 2024 under the scorching Hungarian sun, Schaar had to give it his all.

And everything he gave.

Just like in the previous competition phases, the vert history maker stormed through his opening round and climbed straight to the top of the rankings with a cool 93.48.

In his second attempt, Schaar increased his score to 94.46. It seemed unbeatable until Olympic champion Keegan Palmer answered with 94.94.

Then it was a matter of waiting for Schaar. The field came and went, and no one could challenge his score. Tate Carew It was his turn – as the last runner before Schaar and Palmer – and the pause while the judges deliberated his final run seemed to last an eternity.

When 92.65 appeared on the screen, a stampede ensued. The field shouted to their friend and rushed to Schaar, who celebrated his moment. He knew he had done enough to meet the quota. The figure skater, whose attempt to qualify for Tokyo had been painfully ended in the last Olympic qualifier before Japan, was not going to be turned away a second time.

“Somehow it worked,” Schaar said calmly afterwards. “I spent ages doing the math last night to figure out what it would take, and finally I thought to myself, ‘Well… I pretty much have to come first or second.'”

He continued: “I tried to act like this is a normal competition. It’s just skating. We’ve all been doing this for so long and we’re all just a big group of friends. There’s no crazy rivalries or anything weird like that. We’re all just having fun. I’m on the podium with my best friends. It’s so awesome.”

Winner Palmer, Schaars’ most vocal supporter on the team, talked about how much it meant to him to help get the American figure skater – and friend – through.

“At the last Olympics, he got knocked out of qualifying in the very last competition. I felt so bad. And I’m so happy for him that he can come and skate, represent his country and skate with us. We all skate every day, so it’s just an incredible feeling.”

Third place went to OQS Shanghai winner Carew (92.65), who displaced the US world champion. Gavin Böttger by 0.55 points.

Augusto Akio from Brazil, Kieran Woolley, Victor Solmunde And Vincent Matheron took fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth places.

*Since National Olympic Committees have sole responsibility for representing their respective countries at the Olympic Games, athletes’ participation in the Paris Games will depend on their NOC selecting them to represent their delegation to the Paris 2024 Games.

Click here to view the official qualification system for each sport.