Qualification for surfing in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics has been a relatively complicated process, and much misunderstood in the surfing world.
The qualification process has taken in the 2019 WSL Championship Tour, 2019 ISA Games, 2019 Pan American Games and 2020 ISA Games.
20 men and 20 women will compete, with a maximum of 2 surfers per nation, per gender (i.e. 4 maximum, over both categories.)
Hawaiians, who are traditionally a separate entity from their mainland counterparts in WSL competition, will be competing under the star spangled banner of the USA.
Californian Kolohe Andino and Hawaiian John Joh Florence will comprise Team USA for the men. Photo WSL
Elsewhere, the nations are more or less as they are in the WSL.
The strongest nations, with a full quota of 2 men and 2 women qualified in 2019 are Brazil, USA and Australia.
So Who’s In?
The young Peruvian Lucca Mesinas – who was fairly unknown until recently – will be looking to prove himself in the beach breaks of Chiba. Photo Tony Heff // WSL
Qualified Men:
Gabriel Medina (BRA), Italo Ferreira (BRA), Kolohe Andino (USA), John John Florence (USA), Owen Wright (AUS), Julian Wilson (AUS), Jeremy Flores (FRA), Michel Bourez (FRA), Kanoa Igarashi (JPN), Jordy Smith (RSA), Leon Glatzer (GER), Miguel Tudela (PER), Lucca Mesinas (PER), Manuel Selman (CHI), Hiroto Ohhara (JPN), Rio Waida (INA), Frederico Morais (POR), Billy Stairmand (NZL), Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR), Leandro Usuna (ARG)
Under the expert tutelage of Aussie vet Bede Durdbridge, Sally Fitzgibbons is undoubtedly one to watch this summer in Japan. Photo Kelly Cestari // WSL
Qualified Women:
Carissa Moore (USA), Caroline Marks (USA), Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA), Silvana Lima (BRA), Brisa Hennessy (CRC), Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Johanne Defay (FRA), Yolanda Sequeria (POR), Teresa Bonvalot (POR), Daniella Rosas (PER), Leilani McGonagle (CRC), Mahina Maeda (JPN), Amuro Tsuzuki (JPN), Pauline Ado (FRA), Anat Lelior (ISR), Bianca Buitendag (RSA), Ella Williams (NZL), Sofia Mulanovich (PER), Dominic Barona (ECU)
Ellie Turner will need to beat all other Euro hopefuls to give Britain at shot at qualify at this years ISA’s. Photo Lewis Turner
What About Team GB?
Britain’s recent Olympic success is unlikely to be matched in surfing in the near future.
Team GB does have the prodigious talent of Sky Brown in skateboarding in Tokyo, the youngest Olympian ever to compete for Britain (she’ll be 12); and her surfing skills could see her in possible contention for Paris 2024, or perhaps more likely, LA 2028.
Cover photo: WSL
