Gold medalist Kauli Vaast (C) of France, silver medalist Jack Robinson (L) of Australia and bronze medalist Gabriel Medina of Brazil attend the awarding ceremony after the men's gold medal match of surfing at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Teahupo'o, Tahiti, French Polynesia, on Aug. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Ma Ping)
TAHITI, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- French surfer and Tahiti native Kauli Vaast surfed to victory in the Olympic surfing men's finals on Monday, while Caroline Marks continued the U.S. monopoly on the women's Olympic title.
The Olympic surfing competition reached its final day of action after a three-day pause due to a lack of wave conditions. Having grown up surfing in Tahiti, Vaast again flexed his local knowledge on the waves of Teahupo'o in the men's final, scoring a total of 17.67 points, including a 9.5-point wave, and topping his Australian rival Jack Robinson, who only completed one wave.
"I can't believe it right now. I don't really realize it, but I just made history - not just for me, for all Tahitians, for surfing and Polynesians and friends. I can't be more proud to represent Tahiti and friends at home," said Vaast.
In the women's finals, Marks improved from her fourth place in the Tokyo 2020. She beat Brazilian surfer Tatiana Weston-Webb to become the second U.S. women's surfing gold medalist after Carrisa Moore in Tokyo 2020.
"Your whole life goes into a moment like this, so it's just really special," said Marks.
Marks had a better single-wave performance with 7.5 points. Weston-Webb's last effort boosted her marks to 10.33 points, just short of Marks' 10.5 points.
Three-time world champion Gabriel Medina of Brazil put on a show en route to winning the bronze medal for Brazil in the men's event. Johanne Defay added another medal for France in surfing by winning the women's bronze medal. ■
Gold medalist Caroline Marks (C) of the United States, silver medalist Tatiana Weston-Webb (L) of Brazil and bronze medalist Johanne Defay of France attend the awarding ceremony after the women's gold medal match of surfing at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Teahupo'o, Tahiti, French Polynesia, on Aug. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Ma Ping)
Kauli Vaast of France competes during the men's gold medal match of surfing between Kauli Vaast of France and Jack Robinson of Australia at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Teahupo'o, Tahiti, French Polynesia, on Aug. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Ma Ping)
Kauli Vaast (R) of France celebrates after the men's gold medal match of surfing between Kauli Vaast of France and Jack Robinson of Australia at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Teahupo'o, Tahiti, French Polynesia, on Aug. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Ma Ping)
Caroline Marks (L) of the United States celebrates after the women's gold medal match of surfing between Caroline Marks of the United States and Tatiana Weston-Webb of Brazil at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Teahupo'o, Tahiti, French Polynesia, on Aug. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Ma Ping)
Caroline Marks of the United States competes during the women's gold medal match of surfing between Caroline Marks of the United States and Tatiana Weston-Webb of Brazil at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Teahupo'o, Tahiti, French Polynesia, on Aug. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Ma Ping)
Kauli Vaast of France competes during the men's gold medal match of surfing between Kauli Vaast of France and Jack Robinson of Australia at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Teahupo'o, Tahiti, French Polynesia, on Aug. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Ma Ping)
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