Buenos Aires Youth Olympic Game’s Athletes To Watch For At Tokyo 2020
With the third Youth Olympic Games finishing up last month in Buenos Aires, there were many impressive performance by young up and coming athletes. The games established in 2010, were made with the idea of growing athletes through experience to transition them to the actual Olympic stage with ease. It seems however a few athletes are already capable of challenging their more veteran counterparts. This is due to more and more resources offered at younger ages, and of course more chances to participate in international competition. Yes there are many deserving athletes to make this list, but here are some that have a good chance to represent their country at the upcoming 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
Takeru Kitazono — Male’s Gymnastics (Japan)
It is hard not to start the list with the most promising male gymnast from a country that has dominated the male individuals in recent years. Kitazono won five gold medals and a silver at the 2018 Beunos Aires Youth Olympic Games. He placed first in the all-around, parallel bars, rings, horizontal bar and floor competitions. Kitazono’s lone silver would be in the mixed team event as part of Team Max Whitlock.
The current two time reigning Olympic champ, Japan’s star Kohei Uchimura, nicknamed King Kohei, has been at the pinnacle of the gymnastics world for the past eight years. King Kohei did recently lose his first Japanese championships in ten years, spanning from 2008–2017. At twenty nine years of age, Tokyo 2020 will most likely be one of his last. With Kitazono winning the Japanese Junior Championships and then dominating the Youth Olympic Games, he has been given the nickname “Kohei number two”. Could Tokyo 2020 serve as the passing of the figurative crown from King Kohei to the new King Kintazono? Doing this on home soil could serve as an memorable moment for Japanese Male’s Gymnastics.
Aleksandra Nacheva (Bulgaria) & Maria Vincente (Spain) — Female’s Triple Jump
At first, due to Nacheva taking the win at the Buenos Aires 2018 Y.O.G, she was going to make the list alone. However, due to these two’s heated competitions this year, it seemed fitting for both Nacheva and Vincente to make the list. Maria Vincente would win gold at the European Athletics U-18 Championships earlier this year over Nacheva, before competing at the Y.O.G.
Aleksandra Nachieva ultimately took the gold at the triple jump contest in females athletics at Buenos Aires 2018. Along with winning the gold, Nachieva set the Y.O.G triple jump record not once, but twice. In the first stage she jumped 13.76m which silver medalists Maria Vincente also jumped. It was during stage two however she would enter the Y.O.G’s record books alone. In stage two Nacheva would jump 13.86m. The thing is this isn’t actually her personal best which is 14.18m.
The results for both these women wouldn’t put them in medal contention, but would put them respectably in the middle of the pack when comparing them to the 2016 Rio Games results. The main reason they made the list is both these women’s results bested their fellow countryman’s results at Rio 2016, and it is safe to say they have a great shot at representing their countries in two years time.
Anastasia Gorbenko (Israel) — Female’s Swimming
At just fifteen years of age, Anastasia Gorbenko from Israel won the individual medley gold medal at the Y.O.G. Not only did Gorbenko win the event, but did so by setting a new Israel record time of 2:12.88. This bested the mark set by former Israeli Olympian Amit Ivry, who swam a time of 2:13.29 at the 2012 London Olympics. Despite this not being the fastest time by a swimmer under the age of eighteen this year, she is the youngest in the of those in the top six.
Anastasia may not be competing for the Olympic gold in two years time, but it is undeniable her potential. Her place as part of the Israeli Olympic Swimming Team in the future seems eminent. At the 2020 Tokyo games it will be interesting to see what the youngster can do on the largest international stage.
Shan Lin (China) — Female’s Diving
Shan Lin was as dominant as can be at the recent Buenos Aires Y.O.G. She would place first in every event she participated in. This includes the 3m spring board, the 10m diving board and the team event. She did so in dominant fashion, defeating her opponent in the 3m spring board by over sixty points. China has been one of two powerhouses in Olympic diving, only following the United States in the medal count. Shan Lin will be one athlete to keep an eye on, as she seems mature beyond her years highlighted in her most recent competition.
WANG CHUQIN (China) — Male’s Table Tennis
The final member making this list is a bit of a risky one. Wang Chuqin was the winner in the table tennis tournament. He showed incredible skill defeating the thirteen year old prodigy from Japan, Tomokazu Harimoto in the finals. He has all the necessary skills to become an Olympian, but the thing is, he may not even be able to represent his country. This is simply because the powerhouse China is in the table tennis world. Due to China’s dominance in table tennis, a rule of only two male/female representatives per country is allowed. This makes representing China in one of their most popular sports an absolute nightmare. Wan Chuqin impressive skills still make him a must include on the list.
So there you have it, a quick list of just some of the young talent that should be on your radar come Tokyo 2020. Of course there were many more that could have been talked about, but these athletes will for the most part have a great shot to represent their respective countries. The Summer Youth Olympic Games is a great way to foster these talents and the next one will take place in Dakar in 2022.
If you wish to contact me, you can do so at Shotarohmoore@hotmail.com
