Teenager Chen is prince of the park

Chinese skateboarding prodigy Chen Ye scripted a remarkable chapter at the Asian Games on Monday.

The 15-year-old executed three near-flawless runs to score 84.41 points and claim gold in the men's park final ahead of experienced Japanese pair Yuro Nagahara and Kensuke Sasaoka, who crucially both fell in their early runs, at Qiantang Roller Sports Centre in Hangzhou.

Chen Ye's victory saw him become one of Team China's youngest champions at the Asian Games in any sport. Afterward, the softly spoken, unassuming teenager seemed a little shocked by the triumph.

"I think the Japanese skaters are still at a pretty high level. I just got a bit lucky with my second run," he said. "At the beginning, I was very nervous. I was able to complete the first run, but I didn't do all the tricks I had planned. Then my nervousness turned into excitement."

Chen Ye has already enjoyed considerable domestic success, finishing second in the park competition at the 2020 National Skateboarding Championships, and finishing second in the bowl competition at China's 14th National Games in 2021.

His fascination with the sport began in 2016 when he stumbled upon a skateboard at the mall.

"I wasn't thinking much but I just thought it could be fun," he recalled of that day.

Prior to that, Chen was immersed in learning to play the piano, but once he caught the skateboarding bug there was no turning back.

"Initially skateboarding was very exciting, very thrilling, and it just gave me immense satisfaction whenever I managed to execute a trick," he said.

The teenager enjoys the unwavering support of his father, Chen Wanqin, who encouraged his son to try a wide variety of activities, including table tennis, badminton, volleyball, piano and guitar, until it became apparent that skateboarding was his true passion.

"I used to teach him to play the piano, and he had quite a talent for music. However, I was too focused on the basics and my demands were rather strict, which led him to lose interest after a few months. But when he started skateboarding, my role shifted to that of a mentor, encouraging him during his practice sessions and creating a positive atmosphere for him," said Chen Wanqin.

As well as teaching music, Chen Wanqin's interests extend into other creative pursuits such as dancing and film production. However, when his son's skateboarding career began to take off, he decided to open a skateboard shop, allowing him to procure equipment at more affordable prices and ensure Chen Ye never lacked for the necessary gear.

"Mastering a new skateboarding maneuver often involves enduring falls, sometimes up to 100 or 200 times," explained Chen Wanqin.

But even though there was always plenty of new gear available for Chen Ye, he had a preference for wearing his old clothes and shoes. So dad bought a sewing machine to mend the worn-out items.

Indeed, Chen Wanqin's devotion to his son has been a constant theme throughout the youngster's skateboarding journey. When 11-year-old Chen Ye joined Guangdong provincial skateboarding team in 2019, it quickly became apparent that his modest training facilities could not accommodate the youngster's evolving needs. Once more, Chen Wanqin quickly got to work.

Despite having no carpentry experience, he rented a warehouse, spanning over 200 square meters, in Zhongshan, Guangdong province, and designed and built a bowl training ground inside. Last year, he launched himself into an even bigger project, constructing a 900 sq m skatepark for his son.

Chen Ye paid tribute to his father after Monday's final, saying: "My dad has been with me from the beginning, watching videos, conducting research, and teaching me. I would like to thank him for providing me with such a fantastic opportunity, for raising me. I am deeply grateful to my family and my country."

The newly crowned Asian champion was already thinking of ways to improve, specifically in terms of his speed and height.

"When I compete against opponents from Japan, I still notice certain disparities. I want to master more challenging tricks, become more comfortable with various obstacles, and explore different skateparks," he said.

As for next year's Paris Olympics, Chen Ye attempted to rein in expectations, saying: "I don't think I have a chance. The international competition is too strong."

Chen Ye's victory in Hangzhou is likely to add more momentum to skateboarding's growing popularity in China, and he had some advice for newcomers to the sport. "When you practice, expect to experience falls and failures," he said. "Therefore, it's important to remain relaxed and patient."