FANS were left in disbelief while watching the Olympics as a surfer produced a celebration so epic they thought it was fake.
During Monday’s action in Teahupo’o, Tahiti – 10,000 miles away from Paris – Brazilian Gabriel Medina made history with a record score and an even better picture.
Medina was competing against Japan‘s Kanoa Igarashi in the fifth heat of the men’s round three surfing event with waves packing massive size and power.
After starting poorly with a score of just 2.50 on his first wave, Medina then produced a wave for the ages as he scored a staggering score of 9.90, just shy of a perfect 10, on his second.
The 30-year-old caught the wave and entered the barrel before emerging from it moments later with both hands held up and gesturing judges to score him a ten.
In celebration, Medina guided his board up towards the crest of the wave.
He then jumped over the top of it which left himself suspended in mid-air for a few seconds.
During his flight time, Medina pointed with one finger while his surfboard was left trailing behind him, with the pair seemingly floating effortlessly above the water.
If his score of 9.90 – itself a history-making Olympic record for a single wave ride – wasn’t enough, then Medina has also likely won the prize for the best photo of the Olympics.
The stunning snap, taken by French photographer Jérôme Brouillet while on a board nearby, left many believing it was the product of either Photoshop or AI and others calling it the “picture of the Olympics”.
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Reacting on social media, one fan said: “You know the picture is elite when people call it fake.”
A second said: “Insane.”
Another said: “Photo of a lifetime.”
A fourth added: “When people ask what Aura is just show them this photo.”
A fifth said: “Damn that’s crazy, it looks fake.”
A sixth added: “It must be the photographer’s best shot of all time. What a photograph by Jerome Brouillet.”
Brouillet was quite happy with the outcome and explained how he managed to get the amazing shot.
He said: “The conditions were perfect, the waves were taller than we expected.
“So he [Medina] is at the back of the wave and I can’t see him and then he pops up and I took four pictures and one of them was this one.
“It was not hard to take the picture. It was more about anticipating the moment and where Gabriel will kick off the wave.”
How is it scored?
A panel of five judges scores rides out of 10 points and a surfer’s best two waves are combined to give a total out of 20.
Points can be deducted if they get an interference – such as getting in the way of another surfer who has priority.
There are no particular points for a given manoeuvre, but taking on the biggest, most intense waves and riding inside the barrel – where the wave breaks – for the longest time will score favourably.
Why is it in Tahiti?
While nearly every other sport is being competed over in Paris, the European climate and glaring lack of a beach means this event has been outsourced to a warmer part of the world.
France’s surfing beaches are usually flat in the summer, while Tahiti, located in French Polynesia, has huge swells out of the south Pacific throughout the southern hemisphere winter which then hits the reefs at Teahupo’o, creating stunning waves perfect for the Olympics.
If the photographer was happy, then Medina, who progressed into the quarterfinals thanks to his near-perfect wave, was over the moon.
He told Olympics.com: “[It] Felt amazing to get some good waves and I almost got a 10 so I was really happy with that.
“It’s really a dream come true to compete in waves like this for the Olympics. It was really in my dream and I’m realising this today and I’m very happy to be a part of this.
“When it’s like this you just worry about yourself and there’s waves for everyone and you’ve got to go for it. There’s no different strategy.
“You’ve got to surf and got to show what you got and be focused on your goal.
“I’m happy because I got many waves and because the conditions were very good and it’s not often you get the opportunity to surf these kinds of waves.
“It’s difficult to come by so you have to make the most out of any moment.”
Medina will now come up against compatriot Joao Chianca after progressing with a total score of 17.40.
However, Medina’s heroics yesterday overshadowed a terrifying incident in another match where surfer Jack Robinson almost drowned after he was thrown into the sea by the huge waves.
Another flashpoint in the surfing came on the opening day when German Tim Elter suffered a wardrobe malfunction which left his bum showing after his trunks fell off.
WHAT TO WATCH TODAY...
The Paris 2024 Olympics is now well underway with medals being ticked off and huge events still to come.
SunSport brings you all the action taking place in the French capital on a what is expected to be a huge third day.
TODAY’S BRIT MEDAL HOPES
Alex Yee was due to be in action in the men’s triathlon but due to pollution in the River Seine, the event has been postponed.
The Team GB 4x200m men’s freestyle swimming squad are packed with talent and could be in for gold (8.59pm).
And the women’s gymnastics team could also get a podium finish but it’s a strong field including Simone Biles’ USA (5.15pm).
BRITS TO WATCH
Kieran Reilly and Charlotte Worthington get underway in the freestyle BMX qualifiers (12.25pm).
Joe Clarke and Mallory Franklin are both in canoe slalom action, while the men’s hockey side face top-dogs the Netherlands.
GLOBAL STARS TODAY
Clarisse Agbegnenou carried the flag for France at the opening ceremony.
She can back that up with a third Olympic judo gold in the -63kg final (4.49pm).
FANCY SOMETHING DIFFERENT?
It is the final day of the rugby sevens for this Olympics, ending with the final at the 70,000-seater Stade de France at 6.45pm.
And the street-style 3×3 basketball gets underway at the spectacular La Concorde venue at the bottom of the Champs-Elysees in the heart of the city.
Click here for all the events taking place at Paris 2024 today.
Follow all the action as it unfolds with our Paris 2024 Olympics LIVE blog.
