Kauli Vaast, crowned on the legendary spot of Teahupo’o, offers a 13th gold medal to France

At the end of an exceptional final and thanks to a legendary first hit, the Tahitian won against the Australian Jack Robinson in the final, on the night of Monday to Tuesday.

Prophet in his country. Kauli Vaast did not hang around, on the night of Monday August 5 to Tuesday August 6, to secure the gold medal against the Australian Jack Robinson – who defeated the favourite Gabriel Medina in the semi-finals. On the formidable wave of Teahupo’o, which he knows by heart, the Tahitian quickly surfed a first wave almost perfectly, rated 9.5 (out of a maximum total of 10)! In the process, he obtained an 8.17 on his second attempt, to wrap up the duel (total of 17.67 out of 20, addition of the two best waves rated out of 10) while there were 25 minutes left.

Robinson, despite a wave rated 7.83, was never able to come back. “It was hot, there weren’t many waves, I had the first two and it passed! Then, there was nothing more. As you can see, nature does things well. This medal is for Tahiti, it’s for France.”Kauli Vaast was moved after his feat.

In the semi-finals, Vaast had inherited an opponent who was well within his reach, Alonso Correa, a 26-year-old Peruvian whom he beat with a score of 10.96. His lowest total during a competition that was generally well controlled. 13.63 in the first round, 14.03 in the repechage, 15.10 in the third round, 15.33 in the quarter-finals against his compatriot Joan Duru, and therefore a magnificent 17.67 in the final, which allowed France to obtain a 13th gold medal, the 48th in total.