World’s Best Surfers Lay it All on the Line for Olympic Glory at Paris 2024

The true face of Teahupo’o began to show itself today with solid 10-foot sets unloading the full power of the Pacific Ocean onto the sharp, shallow reef. It was an unbelievable display, featuring the world’s best surfers providing a show like no other on sporting’s biggest stage, the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

A completed Round 3 decided Quarterfinalists on the men’s side, with competition called off due to deteriorating conditions before the women could hit the water.

Kauli Vaast, Team France / Photo: Pablo Jimenez

The biggest names in men’s surfing didn’t hold back in pursuit of an Olympic Gold Medal. Brazil’s Gabriel Medina and France’s Joan Duru took top honors. Medina set a new record for the highest single wave score in Olympic history, a 9.90, and Duru lodged the highest heat total, 18.13. Duru’s record landed just 0.03 ahead of João Chianca’s 18.10. Chianca claimed victory in a tight battle against Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) that was one for the history books.

Underdog victories from Peru’s Alonso Correa and Japan’s Reo Inaba kept medal hopes alive for their nations, while those of Mexico, Morocco, South Africa and USA were dashed.

2023 WSL World Title runner-up Ethan Ewing (AUS) tamed Teahupo’o less than a year after breaking his back in its waters. Ewing’s teammate Jack Robinson (AUS) remained undefeated against two-time WSL World Champion John John Florence, and Florence’s teammate Griffin Colapinto went down to local Tahitian Kauli Vaast.

Gabriel Medina, Team Brazil / Photo: Pablo Jimenez

Long anticipated rematch provides redemption for Gabriel Medina

2024 ISA World Surfing Games Gold Medalist Gabriel Medina (BRA) stayed hungry from the start of a highly anticipated rematch. Having narrowly lost to Tokyo 2020 Silver Medalist Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) in the Semifinals of Tokyo 2020, the 30-year-old was not going to let another chance at an Olympic medal slip through his fingers.

“Tokyo was a hard one to deal with because I was so close to the medal,” Medina said.

Taking off straight underneath an unbelievably thick lip, Medina, the three-time WSL World Champion, was swallowed by the beast before being spat out with all 10 of his fingers high in the air. Two judges allotted him the perfect score of a 10, three slightly less, and the final score came through as a 9.90, the highest in Olympic surfing history, topping Igarashi’s own record of 9.33 from Tokyo 2020. Igarashi never found rhythm in the heat and Medina moved one step closer to his goal.

“The wave was just so perfect,” Medina said. “I thought I was gone, and I was like, ‘Oh, I need to try.’ The wind was holding me a little bit and then I just went for it and the wave was a 10, so I’m stoked to get a 9.90. I get comfortable when the waves are good. As long as it’s like this, it’s good for everyone and whoever gets the best wave wins. Today was a dreamy day for surfing. I never imagined that we could get waves like this in the Olympics.”