On Monday, August 5, France’s Kauli Vaast, a native Tahitian surfer who grew up near these waves, rushed into a raging Teahupo’o surf to win the gold medal in men’s surfing at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
. In the final, Vaast, 22, defeated Jack Robinson, 22, of Australia, with a score of 17.67. Robinson took home the silver medal with a score of 7.83. Gabriel Medina of Brazil improved on his fourth-place result at Tokyo 2020 by winning the bronze medal with a time of 15.54.
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Kauli Vaast’s countrywoman Johanne Defay took home the bronze in the women’s competition, capping a magnificent day for the host nation of French Polynesia, where Teahupo’o is situated on the island of Tahiti.Robinson surfed only one wave in the 30-minute final, while Kauli Vaast, the hometown hero from the end of the road at Teahupo’o, earned surfing gold with just two.
The sun broke through the clouds and the much-awaited wave appeared to be finally arriving as the men’s gold medal final got began, sending applause through the channel from the boats. It appeared that this would be the spectacular Teahupo’o barrel-riding finale that everyone had been waiting for.
And for one set, that is. On the opening wave, Kauli Vaast dug in deep and powered through a huge barrel on the front end. He eventually made his way out and displayed his muscles to secure a top score of 9.5.Robinson then scored 7.83 with a backside tube that wasn’t nearly as long and deep as Vaast’s wave.
Kauli Vaast came next, scoring 8.17 on the second barrel wave. That concluded things. The waves turned off just as fast as they turned on. There was a calm, and no further waves of any note broke through. The audience came alive as the final heat’s clock crept down, ticking down the last seconds—”3-2-1″—and Vaast’s gold-medal victory at Teahupo’o became a reality.
“Winning the Olympics at home on the world’s best wave with the best waves is something special for me,” Kauli Vaast said to Olympics.com. When asked what factored into his win, Vaast replied, “I had a great connection from the start of the competition.
A great deal of effort and time was spent in the water under all circumstances. It took a while and was difficult, but I persisted and didn’t give up, and it paid off. And then, [I was] fortunate to have the best mana and to have finally mastered the rhythm for a major competition like this. That’s how we ended up here, the positive vibes and energy that I get from all the Polynesians.
That was unique, and I could feel it. It’s simply crazy. The greatest day of my life. After accepting his honors, Robinson gave some thought to the previous events. “To be here and experience that moment is just extraordinary. This entire journey to get here is a life’s work,” he remarked. “Standing up there, I had the tingles looking around, watching the flags get raised up, that’s special.”
Even though Robinson hadn’t come to Teahupo’o expecting a silver medal, he was nevertheless happy with his acquisition.It didn’t matter at that time, of course, as any contender wants to finish first,” he remarked. “I almost didn’t get to surf the event, but I know that is the objective.
I came very close to missing the event due of my injury. That helped me remember to be grateful for what I had. I’ll most likely get to compete in two more Olympics and compete for a world championship. The train continues to go. Olympic surfers Jack Robinson, Kauli Vaast, and Gabriel Medina at the 2024 Paris Games.
The lifeguards for water safety, who were on their jet skis, burst into tears of pride for Vaast, their hometown boy, while the boaters in the channel cheered and whistled, raising their hands and waving flags. As Kauli Vaast headed ashore, a flotilla of boats and jet skis surrounded him.
An unforgettable moment to conclude the second Olympic men’s surfing competition was celebrated exuberantly on the sled behind Vaast’s jet ski by the French team coach and ultimate hype man, Jeremy Flores, a hero of Vaast’s.
Earlier, Medina faced Alonso Correa of Peru in the men’s bronze medal final. With a fantastic display, Medina made up for his semi-final heat loss to Robinson, in which he was unable to record a second-wave score.
KAULI VAAST
The goofy-footer was the epitome of peak performance, taking home two victories of 7.77s, one from the most impressive tube of the day and the other from a wave that featured four turns in a row, all of them unquestionably committed and progressive, culminating in a 15.54. Correa had a score of 12.43, good for fourth place.
Amidst applauding spectators and family members, including his father Charlie, who was evidently pleased to witness his son—a three-time world champion—earn his first Olympic medal, the bronze medallist touched down with pride, displaying the Brazilian flag. “I’m overjoyed to have won the bronze.
After winning a bronze medal in the semi-final, Medina told Olympics.com, “That was my goal coming here. To get a medal in Tokyo was really close and this year I had another chance and I just wanted it really bad.”
In Tokyo, that period was near. I was disappointed that I didn’t receive a medal despite having two chances that day, and while I was looking back on it today, I decided that this time, I would accept the medal. The surfer, who sprang to fame at the Olympics with a memorable kick-out photo, expressed his happiness with his gold. I’m glad I can make my friends, family, and the entire nation proud of me.”
