“I was weak and just puking my brains out all morning,” just like Filipe Toledo wasn’t at Pipe a few weeks ago.
Yesterday, in round three of the World Surf Games held in Puerto Rico, the almost forty-year-old hometown hero Brian Toth matched up against two-time champion John John Florence and the once-defending champ Filipe Toledo.
As the clock ran out, Florence won and Toth held the number two spot, pushing Filipe Toledo into the repechage.
A defeat by a former QS journeyman might have been easier to swallow Filipe Toledo had it not that Toth barely made his heat due to an acute case of – you guessed it – food poisoning.
Post heat Toth said,
“I was weak and just puking my brains out all morning,” just like Filipe Toledo wasn’t at Pipe a few weeks ago.
You undoubtedly recall two-time WSL champion Filipe Toledo bowed out of the season opener at Pipeline after bobbing in the water for thirty minutes without committing to a single adult-sized wave in his round one heat.
His score? 1.77
His reason? Food poisoning.
Common food poisoning symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, and fever, each of these lasting from six to thirty-six hours.
Yet, Filipe Toledo the lion-chested brushed aside his torment to fulfill his responsibility as a worthy world champion and pretend to surf his heat. After, the lion-chested warrior exited the water to take proper medical care with a cheeseburger and bottle of beer.
Three days later, the Brazilian announced his withdraw from the tour to focus on his mental health.
Pundits sniffed blood and claimed Toledo spineless. Naturally, he returned fire, playing the part of protester at a Selma food counter.
After three weeks, the cruel whisperings and taunting had started to quiet.
But karma runs quick and bites hard.
Post heat Toth said, “I’m going to go probably get an IV right now because I can’t keep anything down at the moment. Rest up and eat well and try to get the food back into me.”
Likely a burger and Modelo.
The whole thing is stinging, isn’t it.