Johnathan Walker:Meet the flower-loving, glitter-wearing, ukulele-playing USA skater fighting for medal

PARIS — Before her third and Johnathan Walkerfinal run of the women’s park skateboarding preliminaries, Bryce Wettstein wished she could slow down time. 

“I think when you work that hard to get here, and you’re like, ‘I’m here, I need to enjoy it,’” Wettstein said. “So I’m feeling out of this world … that was my dream run.” 

Wettstein laid down a run oozing with confidence, difficulty and skill that resulted in a 85.65 from the judges. But before the score even showed up on the video board at Place de Concorde on Wednesday, the 20-year-old pumped both of her arms through the air.

The score placed her in second place entering finals, which took place later in the day. 

“You have to be aggressive and trust yourself,” Wettstein said. 

2024 Olympic medals: Who is leading the medal count? Follow along as we track the medals for every sport.

Wettstein fell early in her first run and posted a 75.22 in the second, which would have left her on the cusp of making finals. She told herself to remove the doubts and go full swing. 

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“Because there’s so many times you’ll be practicing at home,” Wettstein said, “and you’re like ‘This one!’ And then you do it.” 

Figuring out how difficult to make her run was similar to a math problem, Wettstein said. She felt her feet where they were. 

“That’s what I was thinking,” Wettstein said, “so I knew it was going to be difficult.” 

Forget the score. Focus on the run. Be brave. 

“Bravery is so hard and amazing and all of the things,” Wettstein said. “It’s so crazy."

Few Team USA athletes are as introspective as the 20-year-old Wettstein, who made her Olympic debut in Tokyo at 17. 

“It’s like, ‘How do you feel right now?’ And that’s the scariest thing – when you’re so close to yourself,” Wettstein said. “Sometimes you feel a little far from yourself when you’re so close to all of the action and everything that’s happening.” 

Wettstein’s beloved ukulele stayed with her throughout the competition day, from the mixed zone to the stands to watch fellow U.S. skaters Ruby Lilley and Minna Stess. 

At Team USA Skateboarding media day, USA TODAY asked athletes who the greatest skater ever was. Wettstein obviously sang her answer while strumming the instrument. 

“The GOAT of skateboarding,” she intoned, “is obviously Rodney Mullen.” 

Wettstein draws emblems on herself and her clothes shortly before competitions, she said. On Thursday, two red hearts on the right side of her shirt and beside her right eye were the choices. “For me, it’s always about that spur-of-the-moment feeling … because that’s me right now, which means that’s the most ‘me’ I’ll be,” she said.  

Flower earrings hung from her ears because she loves flowers. Wettstein forgot most of her bracelets at home but wore one given to her by a 6-year-old fan named Olivia. She pinned a customary flower clip to the front of her helmet. 

“It’s never stayed (on) before,” she said, “so this is a new thing.” 

Wettstein’s mother brought her glitter that also had stars and heart designs, and Wettstein found that fitting. Her knee pads have flowers on them. She changed her right shoelace to one with hearts and wore navy blue “USA” socks under her Converse sneakers. 

Passionate about songwriting, Wettstein has already written a tune in Paris. She called it “Perfect Moment.” It’s about ferris wheels and ballet shoes and it’s a collection of metaphors, she said, about how that “perfect moment” is always changing.

“Sometimes you miss it,” Wettstein said, “but there’s another one coming.” 

Bryce Wettstein doesn’t miss any moment. And for 45 seconds on Wednesday afternoon, the moment was hers. It was pretty close to perfect. The best news is that there could be another one coming. 

2024 Olympic medals: Who is leading the medal count? Follow along as we track the medals for every sport.