A handful of the world's best surfers on the Championship Tour have already claimed their highly coveted spots on their prospective national teams for the Summer Olympics in a couple weeks. This is the first year surfing is in the Olympics after a unanimous vote from the International Olympic Committee in 2016. In the case for surfings debut in the Olympics, 18 of the 40 athletes were chosen from the 2019 season leader board rankings.
Taking place July 23rd to August 8th, 2021, here are the WSL Championship Tour surfer's you will see in the water at the Tokyo Summer Games 2020.
Country: Brazil
Age: 27
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 169 lbs
Stance: Goofy
"The fight for the qualification for the Olympics was super tight. It has been something I have been looking forward to this year. It is a dream come true for me to represent my country in the Olympics."
Gabriel Medina - WSL / Brent Bielmann
Country: USA
Age: 28
Height: 5'7"
Weight: 154 lbs
Stance: Regular
"I am completely honored to be in the Olympics next year and representing the USA. Like I said, I haven't let myself even dream about it yet but, I am excited to go home and celebrate with my family."
Carissa Moore - WSL / Cait Miers
Country: Japan
Age: 23
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 171 lbs
Stance: Regular
"It's crazy news to hear. When you know you are hitting your goals and objectives, it is always an honor. It has been a long year of worrying about qualifying and how things would play out. I am glad everything worked out. I am looking forward to the new goal I have next year. Winning a gold medal is a huge dream of mine. I am honored to be apart of a huge moment in our sport and for my country."
Kanoa Igarashi - WSL / Ed Sloane
Country: Brazil
Age: 27
Height: 5'7"
Weight: 149 lbs
Stance: Goofy
"I am so happy right now to represent Brazil in the Olympic games with Gabriel. I hope to represent Brazil with hopefully a gold medal."
Italo Ferreira - WSL / Matt Dunbar
Country: Australia
Age: 33
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 149 lbs
Stance: Regular
"Without stressing about everything I let everything just happen. And it's amazing."
Stephanie Gilmore - WSL / Matt Dunbar
Country: Australia
Age: 32.
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 180 lbs
Stance: Regular
"It's an incredible opportunity, I mean its very surreal. I had a month off between Portugal and Pipe. I trained my butt off to earn my spot on the Australian team. I don't know its a bit of a chicken skin moment."
Julian Wilson - WSL / Jackson Van Kirk
Country: Brazil
Age: 25
Height: 5'4"
Weight: 127 lbs
Stance: Goofy
"Honestly I almost shed tears, I am the first Brazilian to qualify on the surfing side, Bom Brazil! I am really happy this is crazy."
Tatiana Weston-Webb - WSL / Cait Miers
Country: USA
Age: 27
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 174 lbs
Stance: Regular
"It was a goal for me at the beginning of the year. I am really stoked, went and told my dad, I am so happy, couldn't be more excited to compete in Tokyo."
Kolohe Andino - WSL / Ed Sloane
Country: France
Age: 27
Height: 5'6"
Weight: 134 lbs
Stance: Regular
"It's crazy, I am thankful for the new opportunity, giving surfing a bigger picture and I am so proud to represent Reunion Island and France over there."
Johanne Defay - WSL / Matt Dunbar
Country: France
Age: 33
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 158 lbs
Stance: Regular
"What a nice surprise, I just got the news that I qualified for the Olympics. I have always been a big fan of the Olympic games and watching my fellow countrymen in every sport do well. I am really proud to represent France. This is going to be a really cool experience and to be a part of it is something special."
Jeremy Flores - WSL / Jackson Van Kirk
Country: USA
Age: 27
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 174 lbs
Stance: Regular
"I feel super good. That was the goal I set for this event. To accomplish that goal I am fired up. I am so happy to go to the Olympics to represent Hawaii, the USA, I couldn't have done it without my support crew."
John John Florence - WSL / Kelly Cestari
Country: Costa Rica
Age: 21
Height: 5'4"
Weight: 125 lbs
Stance: Regular
"I am completely speechless and honored. To have Costa Rica behind me I am filled with gratitude. I have no expectations, I know it is going to be great, I want to be able to show the world what a beautiful sport it is. To be one of the surfers to showcase that."
Brisa Hennessy - WSL / Kelly Cestari
Country: Australia
Age: 31
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 178 lbs
Stance: Goofy
"To qualify for the Olympics is massive. I started out this year with that goal. I felt like I had a great year, I didn't have the performance I wanted at Pipe but I still qualified. I am over the moon. I am so happy."
Owen Wright - WSL / Damien Poullenot
Country: France
Age: 35
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 176 lbs
Stance: Regular
"It's a mixed feeling. Battling with three of my best friends and being on tour with them. At the end of the day that is the game. To me this is a great moment. I never thought I'd be in the Olympics before. To be there an participate is a huge achievement in my career for sure."
Michel Bourez - WSL / Cait Miers
Photo Bombs: Championship Tour Stars You'll See In Action At The Olympics
Cayla Moore
A handful of the world's best surfers on the Championship Tour have already claimed their highly coveted spots on their prospective national teams for the Summer Olympics in a couple weeks. This is the first year surfing is in the Olympics after a unanimous vote from the International Olympic Committee in 2016. In the case for surfings debut in the Olympics, 18 of the 40 athletes were chosen from the 2019 season leader board rankings.
Taking place July 23rd to August 8th, 2021, here are the WSL Championship Tour surfer's you will see in the water at the Tokyo Summer Games 2020.
Gabriel Medina
Country: Brazil
Age: 27
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 169 lbs
Stance: Goofy
"The fight for the qualification for the Olympics was super tight. It has been something I have been looking forward to this year. It is a dream come true for me to represent my country in the Olympics."
Carissa Moore
Country: USA
Age: 28
Height: 5'7"
Weight: 154 lbs
Stance: Regular
"I am completely honored to be in the Olympics next year and representing the USA. Like I said, I haven't let myself even dream about it yet but, I am excited to go home and celebrate with my family."
Kanoa Igarashi
Country: Japan
Age: 23
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 171 lbs
Stance: Regular
"It's crazy news to hear. When you know you are hitting your goals and objectives, it is always an honor. It has been a long year of worrying about qualifying and how things would play out. I am glad everything worked out. I am looking forward to the new goal I have next year. Winning a gold medal is a huge dream of mine. I am honored to be apart of a huge moment in our sport and for my country."
Italo Ferreira
Country: Brazil
Age: 27
Height: 5'7"
Weight: 149 lbs
Stance: Goofy
"I am so happy right now to represent Brazil in the Olympic games with Gabriel. I hope to represent Brazil with hopefully a gold medal."
Stephanie Gilmore
Country: Australia
Age: 33
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 149 lbs
Stance: Regular
"Without stressing about everything I let everything just happen. And it's amazing."
Julian Wilson
Country: Australia
Age: 32.
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 180 lbs
Stance: Regular "It's an incredible opportunity, I mean its very surreal. I had a month off between Portugal and Pipe. I trained my butt off to earn my spot on the Australian team. I don't know its a bit of a chicken skin moment."
Tatiana Weston-Webb
Country: Brazil
Age: 25
Height: 5'4"
Weight: 127 lbs
Stance: Goofy
"Honestly I almost shed tears, I am the first Brazilian to qualify on the surfing side, Bom Brazil! I am really happy this is crazy."
Kolohe Andino
Country: USA
Age: 27
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 174 lbs
Stance: Regular
"It was a goal for me at the beginning of the year. I am really stoked, went and told my dad, I am so happy, couldn't be more excited to compete in Tokyo."
Johanne Defay
Country: France
Age: 27
Height: 5'6"
Weight: 134 lbs
Stance: Regular
"It's crazy, I am thankful for the new opportunity, giving surfing a bigger picture and I am so proud to represent Reunion Island and France over there."
Jeremy Flores
Country: France
Age: 33
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 158 lbs
Stance: Regular
"What a nice surprise, I just got the news that I qualified for the Olympics. I have always been a big fan of the Olympic games and watching my fellow countrymen in every sport do well. I am really proud to represent France. This is going to be a really cool experience and to be a part of it is something special."
John John Florence
Country: USA
Age: 27
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 174 lbs
Stance: Regular
"I feel super good. That was the goal I set for this event. To accomplish that goal I am fired up. I am so happy to go to the Olympics to represent Hawaii, the USA, I couldn't have done it without my support crew."
Brisa Hennessy
Country: Costa Rica
Age: 21
Height: 5'4"
Weight: 125 lbs
Stance: Regular
"I am completely speechless and honored. To have Costa Rica behind me I am filled with gratitude. I have no expectations, I know it is going to be great, I want to be able to show the world what a beautiful sport it is. To be one of the surfers to showcase that."
Owen Wright
Country: Australia
Age: 31
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 178 lbs
Stance: Goofy
"To qualify for the Olympics is massive. I started out this year with that goal. I felt like I had a great year, I didn't have the performance I wanted at Pipe but I still qualified. I am over the moon. I am so happy."
Michel Bourez
Country: France
Age: 35
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 176 lbs
Stance: Regular
"It's a mixed feeling. Battling with three of my best friends and being on tour with them. At the end of the day that is the game. To me this is a great moment. I never thought I'd be in the Olympics before. To be there an participate is a huge achievement in my career for sure."