Gabriel Medina is the only Brazilian alive in the Fiji stage of the WSL
After Yago Dora's elimination, three‑time champion advances to the quarter‑finals and aims to close the gap to the ranking leaders.
Gabriel Medina is the only surfer from Brazil still competing in the Fiji stage of the World Surf League (WSL), held at Cloudbreak. After the eliminations of other Brazilians such as Yago Dora, Ítalo Ferreira and Miguel Pupo, Medina has become the country's last hope in the tournament. The three‑time world champion now prepares to face Frenchman Kauli Vaast in the quarter‑finals.
The elimination of the Brazilians at Cloudbreak
Brazil managed to qualify five athletes for the round of 16 in Fiji, but only Gabriel Medina advanced to the quarter‑finals. The last competitor from the country to be eliminated before Medina was Yago Dora, early Wednesday morning. Dora lost to American Cole Houshmand 16.13 to 13.27 in the round of 16. In addition to Yago Dora, surfers Ítalo Ferreira, Samuel Pupo and Miguel Pupo also said goodbye to the event before the finals.
The unprecedented clash against Kauli Vaast
To move forward in the competition, Medina will have to face Frenchman Kauli Vaast, born in Tahiti, in a heat that was postponed after sea conditions worsened. This will be the first mano‑a‑mano duel between the two athletes on the CT. Vaast is the current Olympic champion and a specialist in heavy, tube‑riding waves, having earned a perfect ten‑point score in the round of 16 against Miguel Pupo, totaling 19.07 out of a possible 20 points.
The stakes for Medina in the title fight
The early exit of the main direct rivals opens a significant opportunity for Gabriel Medina in the world rankings. If he reaches the semifinals, the Brazilian will move up to fourth place in the ranking and close in on Yago Dora. A victory in Fiji, where Medina has already been champion twice, could cut the gap to leader Ítalo Ferreira by almost half, repositioning the three‑time champion in the chase for a fourth world title. Medina has not won a World Tour event since 2023.
Next call and the finals lineup
The determination of the male finalists for the Fiji stage awaits the next official call from the organization, scheduled for 15:45 Brasília time. If he defeats Kauli Vaast, Medina will meet in the semifinal the winner of the duel between Japanese surfer Connor O'Leary and American Griffin Colapinto. The other men's semifinal is already set and will feature a clash between United States' Cole Houshmand and Italy's Leonardo Fioravanti.
With information from GE, UOL, LANCE!.
Source: ge, UOL, LANCE!