Gabriel Medina has wanted to be a father for a long time, and now his dream is becoming a reality. Photo: Medina//Instagram//Screenshot
If Gabriel Medina’s rise through professional surfing happened at lightning speed — just in case you’ve forgotten, he won two events on the Championship Tour before turning 18 — you could probably say the same about his relationship with Isabella Arantes.
The couple started dating less than a year ago. Ten months later, they’re married and expecting their first child together.
And yes, this time it’s real. If that sounds like an odd clarification, it’s because Medina and Arantes appeared to tease a pregnancy last October, only for it to turn out to be a marketing campaign promoting Medininha, the Brazilian’s children’s brand.
This time, there were no mixed signals.
Just 20 days after announcing their engagement, the couple got married Thursday on Paúba Beach on São Paulo’s north coast. Among the guests were longtime CT friend Miguel Pupo, big-wave surfer Pedro Scooby and Brazilian football star Neymar.
Then came the moment nobody saw coming. During his wedding vows, Medina paused before sharing one more piece of news.
“God always surprises us with life’s greatest gifts,” he said, visibly emotional. “And he gave us the greatest one of all: our child. Some of my friends are probably finding out right now.”
The video spread quickly across Brazilian media on Friday. As surprising as the timing might seem, becoming a father has never been a spontaneous idea for Medina. It’s something he’s talked about for years.
Throughout different chapters of his life — single, married, world champion, or rebuilding after difficult moments away from competition — Medina has repeatedly spoken about one dream that had nothing to do with trophies.
He wanted a family.
Back in 2021, while married to model Yasmin Brunet (another detail you may have forgotten: Medina was married before), the couple appeared together on Brazilian television when the conversation turned to children.
“He finally admitted it,” Brunet laughed. “A big house… six kids.”
Medina smiled. “I want a lot,” he said. “I want the house to be full.”
Only a few weeks later, he starred in a branded series reflecting on surfing, life and what happiness looked like beyond competition.
“My perfect wave is being with the people I truly love, doing what I love, surfing and being in the ocean,” he said.
Then he looked ahead.
“One day, I want to be a father.”
Gabriel Medina is still easily one of the most popular, and talented, surfers in the world. Photo: WSL
And if you’re tempted to think that dream belonged only to that stage of his life, there’s another reminder. In 2022, already separated from Brunet, Medina opened a Q&A session on Instagram.
One fan asked whether he still dreamed of becoming a father. His answer was even simpler.
“My biggest dream,” he said.
Three words. A heart-face emoji. And a thumbs-up. That’s why Thursday’s announcement felt different.
Yes, Medina’s relationship with Arantes has moved quickly. They started dating less than a year ago. Twenty days after getting engaged, they were married.
But becoming a father isn’t something that suddenly appeared in his life. It’s something he’d been talking about for years.
There’s an old saying in Brazilian surfing that a happy Gabriel Medina is a dangerous Gabriel Medina. So what happens when he’s in love, married and about to become a father?
The timing is interesting.
The CT heads next to Teahupoʻo – a wave where Medina has won before and traditionally looks every bit like the surfer capable of winning again. His rivals might have one more reason to keep an eye on him as the season progresses, but if the rumors are true, they may get a reprieve in 2027.
