“Feels Good to Be Back”: Three-Time Surfing World Champion Returns to 2024 Olympics Venue on His Narrow Road to WSL Finals

There have been a few surfers who have really stood out throughout the WSL season, and Gabriel Medina is one of them. The Brazilian surfing superstar has been there and done that, from early eliminations to sharing a podium with the world’s best surfers. Currently rated #6 on the Men’s Championship Tour, the surfer is just a few points behind Yago Dora, who holds the #5 spot and is seeking his fourth world championship. Now, the Championship Tour will visit Tahiti for the Tahiti Pro, the penultimate event before the Rip Curl Finals, and it might be the Brazilian surfer’s last dance if he doesn’t perform well.

Gabriel Medina wrote a message and shared it on social media only days before the Tahiti Pro. Rather than being critical, it was more of a warm welcome when he returned to the site of the 2024 Olympics for the WSL event.

Few days of waiting before the big event

When Gabriel Medina competed in Tahiti’s WSL events, he often placed in the top three. In 2019, Medina competed in the rough waves of Teahupo’o but was ultimately beaten in the finals by Owen Wright. The surfer skipped the Tahiti Pro last year because of his mental health, but he won’t skip it this year as he patiently waits to see whether he qualifies for the Rip Curl Finals in September.

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The Brazilian surfer said, “After 4 years feels good to be back in paradaiss” upon his arrival in Tahiti in preparation for the competition. He further added, saying, “I love this place.” The surfer has a soft spot for this location since he has had so many podium finishes here. This year, though, it is more important since he is now ranked #6 and has to move up to #5, where the Brazilian surfer Yago Dora is, in order to qualify for the Rip Curl Finals. Even though the surfer knows the waves in Tahiti will be challenging, he is prepared to take on any obstacle that may arise.

A few other events this year have ended with podium results for Medina, but his showing in the 2023 Margaret River Pro stands out.

A surfing feat he would remember

Medina’s 2023 season got off to a mediocre start, with defeats in all events from the Billabong Pro Pipeline to the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, in which he always came in 9th place. But the surfer came to the Margaret River Pro with a thirst for retribution and the goal of scoring highly.

When Medina reached the finals of the Australian WSL event, he battled American surfer Griffin Colapinto. There were ten waves, and both surfers and spectators were eager to see some action. Colapinto opened with a solid 8.10, and Medina responded with a sharper 8.00. While both surfers felt the heat, it was Medina who came out on top with a 9.50 in the challenging Australian waves. Medina was declared the champion of the 2023 Margaret River Pro because Colapinto failed to respond to the final score.

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