Local Hero Kauli Vaast Takes Olympic Surfing Gold In Tahiti
August 5, 2024, will be remembered as a historic day for Tahiti, thanks to 22-year-old local hero Kauli Vaast. Competing in his home waters, Vaast became an Olympic surfing champion at the Paris 2024 Games. With the weight of his community's hopes on his shoulders, Vaast delivered a stunning performance in the final at Teahupo’o.
Vaast hits a near perfect 9.5
Facing Australia's Jack Robinson in challenging conditions, Vaast started strong, scoring an almost perfect 9.5 on his first wave. This impressive ride, through an open-faced barrel, had the local crowd roaring.
"I knew that one, I would make it if I just have enough speed. I just went all in," Vaast said.
His follow-up score of 8.17 on his second run, leaving him with a total of 17.67, sealed his victory, leaving Robinson needing a near-perfect score.
The atmosphere was electric with chants of "Kauli, Kauli" echoing from the boats. When the final buzzer sounded, the celebration was immense. Vaast's supporters, including jet ski drivers and his coach Jeremy Flores, formed a circle around him, celebrating their new champion.
"It's really something special for me to win the Olympics at home, on the best wave in the world," Vaast shared with olympics.com.
Vaast attributed his success to his deep connection with the ocean and his community's support.
"I really had the mana, it’s what we have here, the spirit and energy that all the Polynesians give to me," he said.
The surfing events, held in the legendary waves of Teahupo’o, were a significant distance from the host city Paris but brought global attention to Tahiti. Vaast, who started surfing these waves at the age of eight, had a sense of destiny about his victory.
"We have a good relationship [with the surf], we call it the 'mana', and in this contest I felt it the whole time," he explained.
With his Olympic gold, Vaast hopes to inspire the youth of Tahiti.
"I'm proud to say that surfing was born in Polynesia, and this means a lot for me. The dream came true," he said.
His journey from a local surfer to an Olympic champion is a testament to his hard work and the support of his community.
Vaast heads to Huntington Beach for next competition
Despite the euphoria, Vaast’s celebration was short-lived. He was scheduled to fly to California that same night for another competition at Huntington Beach, aiming for a spot on the professional world championship tour.
"I have to pack ... I don't have time for a party right now. Maybe I should stay here?" he joked.
Team USA’s Caroline Marks takes women’s surfing gold
Vaast’s victory was only part of a historic day for surfing at the Olympics. American Caroline Marks won the women's title, narrowly beating Brazil's Tatiana Weston-Webb. Marks, who missed out on a medal in Tokyo, secured gold in Tahiti.
