After three days of fierce competition in everything from waist-high wedges to overhead typhoon surf, reigning World Surf League (WSL) Champions Carissa Mooreand Italo Ferreira have won the first-ever Olympic gold medals for surfing.

Four-time WSL Champion Moore was able to hold on against South Africa’s Bianca Buitendag, while 2019 WSL Champion Ferreira’s Finals Day run was not to be halted, even by Japan’s Kanoa Igarashi. Both Buitendagand Igarashi earned the silver medals for their respective efforts.

Rounding out the podium and earning the bronze was Japan’s Amuro Tsuzuki and Australia’s Owen Wright, who were both formidable competitors throughout the entire surfing competition.

Credit: ISA / Sean Evans, Pablo Jimenez, Ben Reed

Surfing’s first women’s Olympic medalists (left to right): Bianca Buitendag, Carissa Moore and Amuro Tsuzuki – PABLO JIMENEZ / ISA

Women:
Gold: Carissa Moore (USA)
Silver: Bianca Buitendag (RSA)
Bronze: Amuro Tsuzuki (JPN)

“Getting to share the sport with so many people that maybe have never even watched surfing was super special,” said Moore. “As a Hawaiian, just seeing Duke Kahanamoku’s dream come true to have surfing in the Olympics is super special. It’s a big time for surfing to be recognized on this level.”

Surfing’s first men’s Olympic medalists (left to right): Kanoa Igarashi, Italo Ferreira and Owen Wright. – PABLO JIMENEZ / ISA

Men:
Gold: Italo Ferreira (BRA)
Silver: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN)
Bronze: Owen Wright (AUS)

“All surfers made history here,” said Ferreira. “Every surfer has a piece of this Gold Medal. I started surfing on a cooler top when I was a kid before I got my first real board and won my first event. Because of [my upbringing] I have a lot of passion for the sport.”

Now after their success in Tokyo, Moore, Ferreira, Igarashi, and Wright will continue to compete on the Championship Tour for the World Title, next in Mexico for the Corona Open Mexico pres. by Quiksilver from August 10 – 19, 2021, followed by Tahiti for the Outerknown Tahiti Pro pres. by Shiseido from August 24 – September 3, for a chance to qualify for the Rip Curl WSL Finals in September.