In a thrilling display of surfing prowess, Kauli Vaast has clinched the gold medal in the men's surfing competition at the 2024 Olympics, held on the legendary Teahupo’o wave in Tahiti. This victory marks a historic moment, as Vaast becomes the first Olympic champion from Tahiti.
Vaast's journey to the gold was marked by a commanding performance from the start. At just 22 years old, he began the final with an impressive near-perfect score of 9.5 on his initial ride. Despite a strong response from Australia's Jack Robinson, who scored 7.83 on his best wave, Vaast's next wave pushed his total to 17.67, sealing his victory as Robinson was unable to challenge further.
Reflecting on his win, Vaast acknowledged a bit of luck in the competition. "We only had a chance to surf three waves, then the ocean went flat," he explained. He attributed his success to a unique spiritual connection with the surf, known locally as "mana." Vaast expressed pride in the significance of this win, stating, "I'm proud to say that surfing was born in Polynesia, and this means a lot for me. The dream came true. I hope this will be a source of inspiration to the youth of Tahiti."
Vaast's path to the final saw him defeating Peru's Alonso Correa in the semi-finals. In contrast, Robinson secured his place by overcoming Brazil's Gabriel Medina. Medina, who earlier made headlines with a record-breaking 9.9 wave, went on to win the bronze medal with a total of 15.54, edging out Correa who scored 12.43.
In the women's competition, American surfer Caroline Marks emerged victorious with a score of 10.50, narrowly defeating Brazil's Tatiana Weston-Webb, who scored 10.33. Johanne Defay from France added to the host nation's success by securing the bronze medal with a score of 12.66, beating Costa Rica's Brisa Hennessy, who scored 4.93.
This Olympic surfing event has not only showcased the exceptional talents of these athletes but also highlighted the rich surfing heritage of Tahiti and the powerful waves of Teahupo’o.
Source: BBC Sport