Meet the flower-loving, glitter-wearing, ukulele-playing USA skater who cherished Paris

PARIS — Before her third and final 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 videoboard at Place de Concorde on Tuesday, the 20-year-old pumped both of her arms through the air.

The score placed her in second place entering finals, but Wettstein didn't land on the podium in the action-packed and skilled final. She posted an 88.12 in her first run but could not stay upright for the full 45 seconds of her second and third attempts.

Disappointment wasn't the proper word to describe her emotions after the final, she said. The tenaciousness within her has only increased. Acceptance is the first step and a shot at the podium would have to be enough.

“A little disappointed because I wanted to land the last run,” she said, “but I think I’m still feeling appointed.”

Australia's Arisa Trew, 14, won gold. Japan's Hiraki Cocona and Great Britain's Sky Brown repeated as the silver and bronze medalists from the Tokyo Games three years ago, respectively.

Before that, though, Wettstein made the most of her final run to make the finals at all.

"You have to be aggressive and trust yourself," she said.

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 the 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 final run of prelims 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."

A final run: 'This could be it'

In finals, she nearly landed a "cab disaster" to end her third run. Perhaps that would have been enough to medal. Either way, she settled for sixth at her second straight Olympics. She wanted fifth more than sixth, obviously, but seventh would have been better, too. Because obviously she sees numbers as colors.

To Wettstein, seven is yellowish-green. Five is yellowish-orange. But six is something pink. Bronze actually may have been ideal compared to gold, because it’s forest green, her favorite color.

As she prepared to enter the bowl for her final run, she put her right hand on her heart and spun around twice to take in the scene at Place la Concorde one final time.

“This could be it," Wettstein said she thought to herself. "This could be the chance I could be waiting for. Forty-five seconds of my life. Because it just could, like, change (everything).”

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."

Luna Lovegood, sushi and bubbles

Wettstein draws emblems on herself and her clothes shortly before competitions, she said. On Tuesday, 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."

In a cynical world, Wettstein is genuine.

Wettstein confirmed a rumor that she indeed ordered a sushi and hamburger at dinner the other night and inserted the raw fish between the buns. She took a selfie with media and recorded the conversation for her personal archives. She dug into her backpack and fished for her "lucky bubbles" to hand to this reporter. On four separate occasions in Paris, people have told her she reminds them of the eccentric but lovable "Harry Potter" character Luna Lovegood – the short blonde hair they share lends itself to the comparison.

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.

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

Despite with the result, Wettstein said she found her "perfect moment" Tuesday. It was every moment.

“Because sometimes, even though it doesn’t go the exact way you want it to go, it’s better," Wettstein said. "Because you only get stronger every time. And there’s so much out there in life to do and work on."

One thing is for sure. With that perspective, Bryce Wettstein will have plenty of perfect moments in her future.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Meet the flower-loving, glitter-wearing, ukulele-playing USA skater who cherished Paris