The 2024 Paris Olympics surfing competition was held in an ominous location in French Polynesia, nearly 10,000 miles away from Paris, with no space for spectators. Despite concerns about the dangerous location, Teahupo’o’s green barrels provided magical moments for surfers like Caroline Marks and Kauli Vaast who won gold medals. The elimination of top-ranked surfers like Gabriel Medina and John John Florence showed the unforgiving nature of Teahupo’o.
The women’s competition saw defending gold medalist Clarissa Moore eliminated in the quarterfinals by Johanne Defay, who went on to win bronze for France. Moore announced her retirement after the Olympics but expressed happiness over her experience. The competition faced challenges with wave conditions but ultimately showcased the athleticism and skill of the surfers.
In the final heats, Vaast took gold by navigating an incredible barrel, while Marks narrowly beat Tatiana Weston-Webb for the gold medal. Despite some injuries, the event was seen as a success, showcasing the state of the art of surfing to the world. The International Surfing Association sees the competition as a significant moment in the history of surfing, linking it to the sport’s Polynesian roots and the dream of making surfing an Olympic sport.
Looking ahead to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, which is in a region claiming to be the home of contemporary surfing culture, there are questions about whether it can top the success of the Paris event.
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