In a stunning display of surfing prowess halfway across the globe from Paris, Brazilian Gabriel Medina shattered records with a historic score at Teahupo’o, Tahiti, and captured an even more breathtaking image of his triumph.
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According to News24, AFP photographer Jerome Brouillet anticipated a spectacular moment when he saw Brazilian Olympic surfer Gabriel Medina catch one of the day’s biggest waves at a renowned surf break.
What he didn’t expect was that his photo of Medina kicking out after a record-breaking ride in Tahiti would become a global sensation and a defining image of the sport and the Olympics.
Positioned on a boat in the channel, Brouillet didn’t have a direct view of the initial action but was perfectly placed to capture the moment.
Competing against Japan’s Kanoa Igarashi in the fifth heat of the men’s round three surfing event at Teahupo’o, Tahiti, Medina faced formidable waves that roared with immense size and power.
Despite a shaky start, scoring just 2.50 on his first wave, the 30-year-old Brazilian delivered a wave for the ages on his second attempt.
Medina achieved a near-perfect score of 9.90, thrilling the crowd as he emerged from the barrel with both hands raised, imploring the judges for a perfect 10.
In an exhilarating display of skill and celebration, Medina guided his board towards the crest of the wave, solidifying his remarkable performance.
Medina then leapt over the top of the wave, momentarily suspended in mid-air as he pointed with one finger, while his surfboard trailed behind him in a gravity-defying moment.
The sight of the pair seemingly floating effortlessly above the water was nothing short of mesmerising.
With his historic score of 9.90 setting a new Olympic record for a single wave ride, Medina also secured what many consider the best photo of the Olympics.
¡Casi 10!
Gabriel Medina 🇧🇷, logró el mejor registro histórico del surf olímpico, al obtener 9.90 luego de montar una ola gigante de Theaupo’o, Tahití, cuyo momento mágico quedó plasmado en esta fotografía.#Surf 🏄🏼♂️#Paris2024#OlimpiadasxDCA
📸Jerome Brouillet/ AFP via Getty… pic.twitter.com/0Bl3yOzd27— Diario de Centro América (@DiariodeCA) July 30, 2024
Brouillet, who captured the stunning shot from a nearby board, created an image so breathtaking that some initially questioned its authenticity, with many hailing it as the ‘picture of the Olympics.’
‘This may well be the greatest sports photo of all time,’ Australian media conglomerate News.com.au posted on its Facebook page.
TIME magazine described it as ‘the defining image of triumph of the 2024 Summer Games’.
Medina posted the image on his own Instagram account, quickly attracting more than 2.4 million likes.
Despite the accolades, Brouillet said celebrations would have to wait because he still had the rest of the competition to shoot.
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Picture: Diario de Centro America / X