Gabriel Medina excels in surfing event and stars in best photo of Olympics

Brazilian João Chianca will be his next rival

Aquaman of the Olympics

Brazilian surfer Gabriel Medina earned the highest single wave score in Olympic history with an impressive 9.90 during the fifth heat of the round of 16, propelling the Brazilian surf icon into the men's surfing quarterfinals. Here, you can see Medina levitating above the wave like a true surf legend, in perhaps the best photo of the Olympics so far.

Photo: Jerome Brouillet /Getty

It happened in the round of 16

The feat took place during the fifth heat of the round of 16 in the men's surfing competition at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The surfing events have been an absolute adrenaline rush, keeping spectators on the edge of their seats.

"I had the opportunity", says photographer

Its author, French photographer Jerome Brouillet, said, in an interview with Sportv: "At the end of the waves, he [Gabriel Medina] projects himself and I take the sequence of photos. (...) It's just another photo. I had the opportunity [to be able to capture the exact moment], there were ten [photographers] on the boat".

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Medina defeated Kanoa Igarashi

In two waves, Medina achieved a very high score: 17.40 (9.90 + 7.50), thus taking Japanese Kanoa Igarashi out of the running, who had just 7.04 (3.67 + 3.37).

A long-awaited rematch

Medina was seeking a victory against Igarashi, following his major upset against the Japanese surfing in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

Brazilian João Chianca will be his next rival

Now, the Brazilian will compete in the quarterfinals with compatriot João Chianca, known as 'Chumbinho', after he defeated Moroccan Ramzi Boukhiam.

Surfing at the Olympics

The surfing events are being held 15,000 kilometres from Paris, in Teahupo'o, a paradisiacal beach with spectacular waves, in Tahiti, the largest island in French Polynesia.

The dream

"The sea is very good. It's a dream to compete in the Olympics with a sea like that," Medina told CazéTV, also thanking his fans.

Three-time world champion

Medina, currently 30 years old, has won three surfing world championships: in 2014, 2018, and 2021. In addition, he has 18 victories on the WSL Championship Tour and 31 appearances in finals, according to WSL.

Surfers competing in the quarterfinals

It remains to be seen who will come out on top in the quarterfinals, which will be between:

Alonso Correa (PER) x Reo Inaba (JAP)

Kauli Vaas (FRA) x Joan Duru (FRA)

Gabriel Medina (BRA) x João Chianca (BRA)

Jack Robinson (AUS) x Ethan Ewing (AUS)

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