Sophia Medina is well aware of her brother’s shadow, and she’s not afraid to step out of it. Photos: (L) Marcio David/(R)Instagram
If there’s one surname that carries weight in professional surfing, it’s Medina. And Sophia Medina knows exactly what that weight — and that privilege — feels like as she builds her own path.
As the younger sister of three-time world champion Gabriel Medina, she grew up in a world where competing and winning were just part of the daily routine. Most people assume that makes things easier. It doesn’t. If anything, it’s just a different kind of pressure.
Sophia learned early on that the name comes with a lot of baggage. The comparisons and expectations were a heavy burden. To move forward, she had to find a rhythm that was actually hers.
“It’s something I accepted a long time ago,” she says. “My brother built an incredible story, and honestly, that’s an honor for me. But at the end of the day, a name doesn’t win you a contest. You’re the only one out there in the water.”
That mindset took time. At different points, the internal pressure impacted her performance. She admits she used to overthink everything.
“I used to put so much pressure on myself. A lot,” she explains. “It just blocks you. You paddle out tense, feeling like you have to prove something to everyone. Now I realize I need to stay light. Surfing isn’t fully in our control, you know? The looser I am, the better I perform.”
You can see that shift in her recent results. Last month, Sophia claimed a major win at the QS 6,000 in Imbituba, at Praia da Vila — a result that not only put her at the top of the South American rankings, but also gave her a strong push back toward the Challenger Series.
The kicker? Exactly 15 years earlier, Gabby won at that same beach.
“When I heard the event was back there, it felt crazy. That memory came back immediately, but I tried not to overthink the coincidence,” she says. “I stayed really focused because I knew how much this event mattered for my season. Maybe that’s what actually made the difference.”
She wasn’t expecting the wave of support that followed, either. “So many people I didn’t even know were watching and sending messages,” she remembers. “It felt different this time.”
Even with the parallels to her brother’s career, the 20-year-old keeps things grounded. She’s honest about the fact that she’s still evolving, especially when looking back at her recent runs on the Challenger Series. After coming close in 2024 when she finished 10th, her most recent season was more up and down, ending in 22nd. Still, she prefers to look at the bigger picture.
“It wasn’t a bad year, even if the results look a bit up and down,” she says. “I broke through a barrier there. You learn so much on the Challenger — new waves, different equipment, and even the time zones. It took me years to figure out which boards work for which conditions.”
While the learning curve in the water is steep, she has a solid foundation on land. Her father, Charles Saldanha — who coached Gabriel to his first two world titles — is still right there by her side.
“He’s way more of a dad than a coach to me,” she says. “Sure, he gives technical advice, but what really matters is how he keeps me calm. That connection makes a huge difference.”
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As for Gabriel? He’s just family.
“It’s actually hard for me to see him as this ‘three-time world champion’ figure,” she says with a laugh. “To me, he’s just Biel, the way I call him. My brother. I see the human side, not the trophies.”
They don’t spend their time dissecting heat strategies, either. They talk about life, humility, and who they want to be outside of the water. “Of course, he’ll give me a few wake-up calls every now and then when it comes to my heats,” she adds, “but it’s always constructive.”
Then there’s the sponsorship side of things. Being with Rip Curl from such a young age — a brand that was synonymous with her brother for 17 years — makes it easy for people to draw comparisons. But Sophia’s stance hasn’t changed: she’s inspired by the legacy, and isn’t trying to replicate it.
She isn’t running from her story, either, or leaning on it as a crutch. She knows her future is defined by what she does now – heat by heat.
“I want to build something beautiful too,” she says. “But I’m doing it my way.”
