On June 28 (Japan Time), 10-year-old skateboarder Ema Kawakami (sponsored by Sakai Cycle) claimed the bronze medal at “X Games Salt Lake City 2025” in Utah, USA. At just 10 years and 9 months old, he has etched his name in the record books as the youngest male medalist in X Games history.

Kawakami first took the global stage last year at “X Games Ventura 2024” at the age of 9 years and 9 months, where he broke the record for the youngest male competitor. He also set three Guinness World Records at the time, instantly capturing the attention of the action sports world.

During the finals of this year’s tournament, fans held their breath in the first run when Kawakami took a hard impact to his head. However, the scare only seemed to fuel his determination for the remainder of the competition. In his second run, he fired back by landing multiple high-difficulty tricks, including his signature “900” (two-and-a-half mid-air rotations), to lock in a high score. He raised the bar even higher in his third run, sending the crowd into a frenzy by landing a world-first combination: two consecutive 900s followed immediately by a clean 720 (two rotations).

Beaming with a massive smile after the podium ceremony, Kawakami shared his excitement: “Winning a medal at the X Games has always been my dream, so I’m incredibly happy.” He added, “I’m so thrilled to have broken Gui Khury’s record for the youngest medalist!”

Competition Results

1st Place: Gui Khury (Brazil)
2nd Place: JD Sanchez (USA)
3rd Place: Ema Kawakami (Japan)