Kauli Vaast from French Polynesia and Caroline Marks from the U.S. secure gold medals in surfing at the Paris Olympics

French Polynesian surfer Kauli Vaast and Caroline Marks from the United States clinched gold medals in the men’s and women’s surfing events at the Paris Olympics in Tahiti. Spectators on boats and along the shore erupted in cheers and tears as Vaast won against Jack Robinson from Australia in the men’s final, while Marks triumphed over Tatiana Weston-Webb from Brazil in the women’s final.

Vaast expressed his pride in representing Tahiti and France on home turf, while Marks described her victory as a culmination of her life’s work. Bronze medals went to Gabriel Medina from Brazil and Johanne Defay from France after defeating Alonso Correa from Peru and Brisa Hennessy from Costa Rica, respectively.

The medal ceremony took place near the ocean, with local surfers calling out the athletes’ names as they received their medals. Notably, all winners at the Paris Olympics surfing event were first-time Olympic medalists. Defending Olympic women’s champion Carissa Moore of the United States, who won in the Tokyo Games where surfing debuted, was eliminated in the quarterfinals.

The final day of the surfing competition had initially faced delays due to unfavorable conditions, but later in the day, the waves grew larger and more frequent, offering athletes the chance to showcase their skills inside the barrels. The event featured surfers from various nations, promoting the sport globally.

The competition garnered attention worldwide and was deemed a success by participants, with Gabriel Medina acknowledging the increased interest and visibility of surfing. The historic event highlighted viral moments, high scores, and captivating footage, ultimately elevating the sport’s profile on the Olympic stage.