Pablo Franco / ISA
Final Five Men Make The Cut For 2024 Paris Olympic Surfing
With the pressure to snag the last open spots for the 2024 Olympic Surfing event fully bearing down on them at the ISA World Surfing Games in Puerto Rico, the last five men just turned their dreams into a reality. Illustrating just how international the sport of surfing truly is, leading the charge was Indonesia’s Rio Waida, who also competed in the 2020 Games where surfing made its debut.
“I was nervous coming to this event, but during the offseason last year I worked hard,” Waida explained afterwards. “Whatever it is, I would do anything to qualify. The last ten days I just let it happen, just enjoy it and just surf, that’s it. I’m excited for Tahiti. The Olympics are one of the biggest events for the athletes. I’m just happy, I can’t wait for the Olympics. I’m sure I will push my level again in Tahiti. It’s one of the most beautiful places in the world, so I’m excited to go.”
Joining Waida will be Morocco’s Ramzi Boukhiam, France’s Joan Duru, Germany’s Tim Elter and Spain’s Andy Criere. For Duru, the Olympic spot came down to a battle between him and countryman Marco Mignot. A bittersweet moment, journeyman Duru shared that he will be retiring after the Olympics.
“Marco had to lose, that was a shame, but it was an amazing contest, well done to him,” Duru said in his post-heat interview. “I’m so stoked the Olympics are in France. It was my last goal, I wanted to finish my career in France and Teahupo’o in August is the best place to surf in France, so it’s going to be amazing waves. It’s a barreling left, it’s what I like, so I’m going to go train for this.”
Meanwhile, for 20-year-old Elter, who grew up surfing in the Canary Islands, the Olympic dream is hopefully the launching pad for a brilliant pro career to follow.
“I grew up surfing heavier waves, and I love slabs and everything that’s not the kind of waves that everyone likes,” Elter said, describing his comfort at Teahupo’o in Tahiti, site of the Olympic surfing competition. “I like to get beatings, I like to get barreled, the adrenaline rush is just insane, you know.”
With all of the surfers Olympic spots filled at the ISA World Surfing Games, the next stop is the opening ceremony in Paris this July, then it’s off to Tahiti and the end of the road at Teahupo’o.
