Gabriel Medina takes a lot of shit online. Haters anonymously lob it at him from behind their screens, screaming insults through their keyboards. Medina, though, keeps doing what he’s doing. At home in Brazil, he’s a megastar. He’s an inspiration to millions. TIME Magazine listed him as one of their 100 Most Influential People. Medina is doing something right. But even winner have to lose every now and then.
John John Florence and Gabriel Medina could be surfing’s next great rivalry. They won’t be, but they could be. It’s almost a shame–a good rivalry makes anything more interesting, and surfing is lacking. By the tenth stop on the tour this year, Medina was out of the world title race and already preparing for 2017. He learned a lot this year, mostly about himself. “Just let it be, you know?” he answered when asked about watching John Florence win. “There’s things that you can do nothing about. “As I say, always thinking positive. If I didn’t win this year, I will try to get better next year. Just don’t think too much. Do your best… and at the same time, don’t take it too serious.”
