Tahitian Kauli Vaast delivered a stunning performance to secure the gold medal for France in the men’s surfing event at Teahupo’o on Monday, edging out Australia’s Jack Robinson, who settled for silver. Caroline Marks of the United States claimed Olympic gold in the women’s final, narrowly defeating Brazil’s Tatiana Weston-Webb, and adding to her 2023 world title.
Vaast, a local from Teahupo’o, showcased his unparalleled skills on his home turf, scoring a near-perfect 9.5 and an 8.17 to total 17.67. His dominance sparked jubilation among fans both on shore and on spectator boats.
“The dream came true,” Vaast said, overwhelmed with emotion. “I can’t believe it right now but I just made history—for me, for all Tahitians, for Polynesia, and for France.” Vaast’s victory was celebrated with a symbolic rooster and a Polynesian conch shell during the medal ceremony.
The men’s bronze went to Brazil’s Gabriel Medina, while France’s Johanne Defay secured third place in the women’s event. Despite challenging conditions, including sporadic swells and tricky winds, the waves improved by the time the men’s finals were held, allowing for clean, overhead barrels at “The End of the Road.”
Marks and Weston-Webb’s final was equally dramatic, with Marks narrowly winning with a two-wave total of 10.50 against Weston-Webb’s 10.33. Earlier, Marks had edged out Defay in a tense semi-final, while Weston-Webb benefited from a costly mistake by Costa Rica’s Brisa Hennessy.
The competition at Teahupo’o once again highlighted the extraordinary talent and passion for surfing, with Vaast’s historic win marking a proud moment for Tahiti and the broader surfing community.
