Gabriel Medina: Bronze Medal Beast
The three-time world champ will need to take gold in Fiji if he is to push for WSL title #4 in 2024
As the world’s best surfers drop into Cloudbreak next week for the Corona Fiji Pro, the penultimate event of the 2024 WSL world tour, Olympic medallist Gabriel Medina must make every heat count if he is to make the “Final 5” and contend for the world title at The Lexus WSL Finals to be held at Trestles in Southern California from September 6 to 14, 2024.
To do so, the man who won in Fiji in 2014 and 2016 will need to focus on the win following Olympic closing celebrations in Paris where he was spotted dancing and smiling his way through the post-performance parties amid other athletes including Gold Medallist kayak sensations Jess and Noemi Fox of Australia.
And who could blame him? With a bronze medal around his neck, the “floating Jesus” image as the iconic photograph of the whole five ring shebang and only the ocean robbing him of a spot in the Olympic Final (he caught just one wave and sat with priority for over 15 minutes in his semi with deserved silver medallist Jack Robinson) Medina’s four-year Olympic campaign had to be celebrated in style.
What is certain is great mate and rival surf animal Jon Jon Florence (HAW) has the #1 spot clinched and will be ready and waiting to hammer all those below him on the rankings in Fiji. Bundled out early in the Olympics, JJF won’t make it easy for anyone – and if Cloudbreak turns on we might just see a battle royale in the South Pacific on the run to Trestles.
The stats are simple: Medina needs a win in Fiji to guarantee a spot; as a second or third place finish still requires Ethan Ewing (AUS), Jordy Smith (ZAF), Italo Ferreira (BRZ) and Jack Robinson (AUS) – all ahead of him now where he is ranked 8th – to exit early and create some mathematical breathing space for him in the rankings.
On the line: a fourth world title and place in the pantheon alongside 4X legends Mark Richards, Lisa Anderson, Frieda Zamba and Wendy Botha; and a slot above his heroes Mick Fanning, Tom Curren, Andy Irons and Margo Oberg who finished their careers as 3X greats.
We’ve been watching Medina here at Rip Curl HQ since he was 12 years old and from what we’ve seen this year, the Olympics were part of a double header with the ultimate goal being both an Olympic medal and the world title in the same year. Can he do it? Click the link to watch the latest Medina hype real here and see for yourself.Kelly Slater vs. Gabriel Medina - Fiji Pro 2016 Semifinals
Gabriel Medina takes on Kelly Slater in Heat 1 of the Semifinals at the Fiji Pro 2016.