Much handwringing and wet brown cheeks for Brazilian surf fans at the start of the week when the WSL announced the two wildcards for the Teahupoo grand slam were being given to two Tahitians.
Medina, it was reported, wanted to compete at Teahupoo but was told the wildcards were already allocated to Olympic gold medallist Kauai Vaast and the winner of the trials event, Mihimana Braye.
Feedback from Brazilian surf fans included,
“Medina is more popular than the League itself. That pisses them off. LOL.”
“The guy is a three-time champion and has no prestige in the League. That’s unreal. It borders on disrespect.”
“REGRETTABLE WSL!!!! IF IT WERE KELLY SLATER ASKING, THEY WOULD HAVE DONE EVERYTHING TO MAKE IT WORK!!!”
Gabriel Medina, whose dark intelligent eyes and the sweet gravity of his mouth lends his face a noble calm, a great beauty it has to be said, refused the offer of an injury wildcard should it come up saying it would be too last-minute.
The narrative shifted yesterday when Alejo Muniz withdrew from Teahupoo after getting winged at Jeffrey’s Bay giving Medina two weeks before the waiting period begins.
Hopes the triple world champ and six-time finalist and two-time winner at Teahupoo would appear were swiftly dashed when Medina told the WSL he had “scheduling commitments.”
The card goes to Teiva Tairoa, the thirty five year old who came second in the trials.
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