Filipe Toledo says not running Olympics in a wave pool robbed Gabriel Medina of gold medal

“I love the sea (but) when it comes to the Olympics, wave pools would be the fairest way!"

The two-time world champion surfer Filipe Toledo, who held the crown of King of Teahupoo for a wonderful sixteen hours only one week ago, has launched a stinging tirade at Olympic organisers for holding the event in Tahiti instead of at a man-made wave. 

Filipe Toledo, you’ll recall, came into the event with bookmakers listing him as one of the top six favourites, behind Medina, Robinson, Vaast and Ethan Ewing, despite his often conflicted relationship with the dangerous wave known as the Place of Skulls.

The bookmakers’ favour appeared to be vindicated when he rode a long, four-foot barrel that scored an almost-perfect 9.67 and was quickly labelled, “the single greatest moment in surfing history.” 

Toledo fell in the next round, however, as a medium-period west swell turned Teahupoo into a “deadly paradise.” 

As JP Currie painted the scene, 

And so what of Filipe Toledo? What did our two-time world champ do on this day of days?

Well, for a long while it looked like he might repeat his infamous zero point heat total, but as it was he notched a 2.46. Three waves attempted, none critical or close, the highest coming in at a 1.43.

He was roundly trounced by the committed Japanese surfer, Reo Inaba, who deserved the victory regardless of Toledo’s no-show.

Inaba charged and grinned throughout. Even when he was ragdolled by the heaviest wave in the world, he still came up smiling.

Toledo, by contrast, was locked back into his familiar grimace, looking like he’d rather be anywhere else in the world. Ideally 24 hours in the past, posting an obscene number of Instagram stories highlighting his waves from yesterday.

But pay for his hubris he did.

With all sincerity, I hope he is ok, because I can scarcely imagine a greater swing from high to low.

Yesterday, his demons had been vanquished, silenced and sent back to that dark chamber in the pit of his soul.

Today, they are back upon his shoulder, wailing and cackling into the shot blood of his eyeballs.

And I fear that when it’s all said and done, it won’t be two world titles and some of the most dynamic surfing ever done that is Filipe Toledo’s legacy, but simply a handful of waves he refused to paddle for.

In a to-camera post on Instagram today, Toledo lamented his countryman Gabriel Medina only catching one wave in his real slow semi against Jack Robinson, telling fans: 

I love the sea and I don’t think anything beats nature! But, when it comes to the Olympics, I think it would be the fairest way! Everyone would have enough chance to put their best foot forward!

Let’s be honest, if the sea continued as it was in round three, Gabriel would win the gold and we know that! The pool provides this condition from start to finish, and in the end, the best surfer really wins!

If I lost in the wave pool, I would at least lose surfing and giving my best, which wasn’t the case with Gabriel, who in my opinion didn’t even lose, he just didn’t have a chance!

Every four years, I think the athlete needs to be prepared for this unique moment that is the Olympics and be sure that they will deliver their best!

There have been four majors held in a wave pool, Kelly Slater’s famous Surf Ranch, with Medina winning three of ‘em, Toledo one and Griffin Colapinto one, although the American’s win set off a bonfire of hate mail and death threats and claims of racism from Brazilian fans etc. 

A common refrain.

Read, Brazilian surf fans apoplectic following Californian Griffin Colapinto’s “shock” win over world title favourite Filipe Toledo, “World Shame League! This event was a joke!” and Latin surf fans vow to create chaos at next World Tour event in Brazil following Filipe Toledos controversial loss to Californian in El Salvador, “The biggest protest in history in Saquarema! Bring banners, balloons, planes, boo all the time! Make them leave due to emotional stress!”)