French Polynesian and American Surfers Take Gold at Paris 2024 Olympics

Kauli Vaast from French Polynesia claimed the gold medal in the men’s surfing competition, while Caroline Marks from the United States secured the gold in the women’s event at the Paris 2024 Olympics in Tahiti on Monday. The finals were met with cheers and tears from spectators on shore and boats floating near the waves. Vaast’s victory came after defeating Jack Robinson from Australia in the men’s final, who received the silver medal. The women’s final concluded shortly after, with Marks overcoming Tatiana Weston-Webb from Brazil, who earned the silver. Gabriel Medina from Brazil and Johanne Defay from France secured the bronze medals in the men’s and women’s competitions, respectively, after defeating Alonso Correa from Peru and Brisa Hennessy from Costa Rica. All the winners of the Paris Olympics surfing competition are first-time Olympic medalists. The event also marked a significant moment for the sport as it showcased the talent and excitement of surfing to a global audience. The final day of the Paris Olympics surfing competition commenced Monday morning following two days of delays due to unfavorable conditions. While the morning saw smaller waves than the heavy, barrel-shaped waves Teahupo’o is known for, the afternoon brought larger, more frequent waves, allowing athletes to showcase their skills to the judges. The event even featured a whale breaching near surfers. The competition saw representation from various nations, with French Polynesian, Peruvian, Australian, and other flags waving from boats near the waves. Though not every surfer walked away with a medal, many agreed that the second-ever Olympics surfing competition, filled with viral photographs, record-breaking scores, and stunning video footage, effectively promoted the sport. “Everyone’s watching and paying attention,” said Medina, who gained millions of social media followers after a photo of him in the sky next to his surfboard while bailing out of a wave went viral during the competition. “I think surfing wins.”