Gabriel Medina: An Iconic Moment at the 2024 Olympics
On a distant reef 16,000 km from Paris, surfer Gabriel Medina provided one of the most memorable images of the 2024 Olympics. On Monday, at Teahupo'o, Tahiti, Medina rode an impressive wave, emerging from a barreling section before soaring into the air and appearing to float on a Pacific cloud, pointing to the sky with biblical serenity. His movements, perfectly mirrored by his surfboard, were captured with precision by Agence France-Presse photographer Jérôme Brouillet.
Brouillet, a professional photographer with vast experience, said, "The conditions were perfect, the waves were taller than we expected." He was aboard a nearby boat when he took the photo, capturing the surreal image that seemed too good to be true. "It wasn't hard to take the picture. It was more about anticipating the moment and where Gabriel would emerge from the wave," Brouillet explained. He knew Medina often celebrated like this at the end of waves.
As a Brazilian and a huge fan of Gabriel Medina, seeing my idol shine at the Olympics is thrilling. I've always had a passion for surfing and even took some lessons while living in Brazil and travelling to Rio de Janeiro.
The image of Medina was immediately shared on social media, gaining worldwide attention. Medina, a three-time world champion, almost achieved a perfect wave score of 10 but had to settle for 9.9, the highest score of the Olympics so far.
Jérôme Brouillet, the photographer behind this iconic image, is known for his ability to capture unique moments in challenging conditions. He acknowledges that the photo is special but leaves its lasting appeal for others to decide.
Medina was competing in round three when he caught the wave, easily surpassing Kanoa Igarashi with a combined two-wave score of 17.40 out of 20, avenging his loss to the Japanese surfer at the Tokyo Games in 2021. Surfing was included in the Olympics for the first time in 2020, during the Tokyo Games. The striking image will help raise the profile of surfing at the Olympics, now being held for the second time.
Brouillet's photograph not only captured Medina's skill but also the beauty and excitement of Olympic surfing, highlighting the importance of this sport in the Games.
