..By PAUL MOSER
..Special to AllAroundPhilly.com

"It's really far from soccer," skateboarder Rodil de Araujo Jr. said with a laugh when asked about his country's preference. "We're not close to being as famous as the soccer players."

Though such a question was delivered in jest, if things keep going the way they did at the 2002 X Games for the Brazilians there could be trouble on the horizon for soccer fanatics in South America.

On the final day of competition outside the First Union Center Monday de Araujo captured his third gold medal of the 2002 X Games with a winning run in the skateboard park discipline. de Araujo earned gold in the street and street best trick on the first day of skating.

"I wasn't expecting to win, I would have been happy with second," admitted de Araujo, who was a last-minute replacement in the street. "I wasn't believing in myself but then I switched a couple of tricks in my run. I was really happy with the results."

The good news did not stop there for the Brazilians.

In addition to de Araujo's gold, countryman Wagner Ramos grabbed his third silver — in the same events, no less — to staple Brazil's hold on the outdoor skate events.

"Brazilian's skate with their whole heart and soul," de Araujo explained. "It's so hard to get here. So, when we do, we give 110 percent."

The difficult transition into the professional ranks for skateboarders like de Araujo and Ramos is quickly becoming a thing of the past, however. Ramos, 21, and de Araujo, 23, are among those forging the way for others like them. 

Another pioneer is the country's most famous skateboarding export, vert star Bob Burnquist, who is considered by many the best in his craft. Burnquist won vert gold in 2001, vert best trick gold in 2000 and silver in the vert and vert doubles this summer. He has been there from the beginning of the skateboarding movement in Brazil.

"Skating is International now and Brazil definitely has a strong name in it," Burnquist said. "It's a lot different than 10 years ago. It's huge in Brazil right now and the popularity is because of Brazilians doing so good."

No small part of that is de Araujo and Ramos' gold and silver sweep of the outdoor skating events. The capper for the dynamic duo was Monday's Triple Crown runs of 93.0 and 92.0, respectively.

California's Eric Koston, regarded as the greatest street skater in the world, earned bronze with a 90.75. As is his style, Koston tried the most difficult tricks - basically forfeiting his second run and chance at gold.

The miscues were few and far between for the Brazilians, however.

"I'm really stoked about Brazil's success," de Araujo said before donning a Brazilian flag. "I have a lot of pride for my home country."

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Despite failing to land his planned triple backflip in the aggressive inline vert finals, pro skater Matt Lindenmuth still was able to pay tribute to a fallen friend.

Inline skater Eddie Campos, born in 1972, died Friday night in a motorcycle accident in New Jersey. Campos was a mentor for Lindenmuth, a Kutztown native, and was featured in ESPN's tribute to the skater.

Prior to the contest Lindenmuth dedicated his attempted triple backflip - which would have been the first in any action sport - to Campos.

"I know he's watching today," Lindenmuth said prior to the finals. "So I want to put on a good show."

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Caleb Wyatt, the first Moto-X rider to land a backflip and a favorite for Monday's big air competition, injured his wrist a few days before the X Games and did not compete.

Kenny Bartram, who had a failed flip attempt Friday during the Freestyle finals, was not able to defend his big air gold medal thanks to an ankle injury suffered in the fall.

Taig Khris, the defending aggressive inline vert gold medallist, also sat out Monday with an injury. Among the other notable no-shows due to injury at the games were BMX rider Jamie Bestwick, Moto-X superstar Travis Pastrana and female aggressive inline skater Fabiola da Silva.

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Philadelphia resident Kerry Getz flashed his signature temper Monday during the X Games park finals.

Falling on numerous occasions, Getz threw his helmet and board into the crowd before storming off.

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