Keegan Palmer Seeks Redemption in San Juan After Disappointing Finish in Sharjah
Image – Getty Images / Ezra Shaw
Hoping for a much better experience in San Juan compared to Sharjah, Keegan Palmer is setting his sights high.
Back in February at the World Championships held in the United Arab Emirates, the reigning Olympic men’s park skateboarding champion had a challenging time. Despite cruising through the initial two rounds, he ended up in the last position during the final competition, a surprising outcome given his strong start.
What made this situation even more perplexing was the fact that Palmer had actively participated in designing the very park where the event took place. This event served as the inaugural qualifier for the Paris 2024 Olympics. Palmer openly acknowledges that the pressure got the best of him.
“That one definitely hurt my confidence because I had a hand in shaping the park, and I initially qualified in the top position leading into the finals,” Palmer shared in an interview with Olympics.com. He spoke about the events at the X Games Chiba 2023, where he emerged victorious in the park competition that was abbreviated due to rain. “It certainly left a mark on me.”
Palmer explained the added stress and anxiety he experienced leading up to that contest. He bore the weight of being the reigning gold medalist, and it was the first World Skate event of significant importance. Additionally, he had played a role in the park’s design.
“Consequently, nerves were running high during the final round. I had the last performance slot in the final due to my top qualifying position. Remarkable runs were being executed right before my turn,” Palmer recounted. “It was undeniably a challenging moment to navigate, but I’m grateful for the chance to redeem myself here.”
