Surfing goes to the Olympics, finals day analysis: “Played as straight-up elite sport surfing came out smelling like roses, thanks to the superstar power of Italo, Moore, Medina!”
The no-names added a frisson of David v Goliath excitement, largely illusory, but that could mean more at Teahupoo in three years time.
Julian Wilson’s Olympic dream “crushed by judges, Brazilian bias!” fumes Australian Press after round three elimination by Gabriel Medina.
“This is it for me travelling outside of Australia."
Son of poor Brazilian fisherman Italo Ferreira wins historic first Olympic surfing gold medal in wild typhoon surf, “It was our moment of truth!”
Reigning world champ Italo Ferreira adds Olympics gold to collection…
Kolohe Andino makes largely forbidden “throat slashing gesture” in victory over countryman John John Florence: “It was like cutting the snake off the head!”
Ride or die.
Surfing goes to the Olympics, day two analysis: “The muddy mess and incomprehensible scoring will not provide succour to ELO’s fevered dream of an Olympic-led surfing boom”
Not what the Duke had in mind when he envisioned the Sport of Kings as an Olympic sport.
InStyle magazine boldly declares that the world is on the cusp of a “Billabong renaissance” after surfing’s grand Olympic debut!
We are back!
Surfing goes to the Tokyo Olympics, day one analysis: “Medina and Ferreira are both equally likely to transcend the sport. Medina’s Villain and Italo’s Joker are archetypes that can be understood by anyone”
"Could surfing in the Olympics produce a Shawn White or a Torah Bright, and who could that be?"
Blood feud: Surfing great Shaun Tomson slams marquee Volcom surfer in wild harangue, “Noa Deane, he’s a big mouth, I want to see that dude get a wildcard at ten-foot Pipe against Gabriel Medina. He’ll be crying! His body will be flayed!”
"The guy’s got a big mouth and never stops whining about the WSL. Let’s see that dude step up!"
Mainstream Media credits forecasting website Surfline with “guaranteeing waves” for surfing’s Olympic debut!
Bullish.
Sign of the times: Shark bite kits installed in beach car parks along stretch of iconic Western Australian surf spots!
A triumph of pragmatism.
Jeff Bezos organ The Washington Post describes Olympic surfing with never-before-seen flourish: “It’s big enough for her to barrel – riding through a cascading tunnel of water!”
Get barrel.
Wresting “mantle of cool” back from equestrian showjumping, Olympic surfers “gleeful” about approaching destructive typhoon!
And we're back.