Gabriel Medina and his stepfather, Charles Saldanha, have spent years rebuilding their family relationship while keeping their professional lives separate. This season, however, that has begun to change. With Medina chasing a fourth world title, Charles is back working alongside him, just as he was when the Brazilian won his first two championships.
Charles, better known as Charlão, is in the Philippines for this week’s event at Cloud 9, but his return doesn’t mean Medina has changed coaches. Adriano de Souza, who joined the team at the beginning of the season, remains his head coach. According to people close to Medina, Charles is now involved in his preparation and decision-making, taking on a more active role than he has in years.
The change has happened gradually. Charles was seen with Medina in El Salvador, Saquarema and, more recently, Portugal. On each of those trips, though, there was another reason for his presence: Medina’s sister, Sophia, was also either training or competing in Challenger Series events.
In El Salvador, Charles was helping Sophia with her training. In Saquarema and Portugal, he was there for her competitions. By the time the Supertubos event wrapped up, Sophia had already left the country, but Charles stayed to help Gabriel, who finished runner-up to Griffin Colapinto.
The trip to the Philippines is different. This time, Charles travelled specifically to work with Gabriel, without any other family commitments. After the event, he’ll head to Taiwan to meet Sophia for the International QS 6,000.
It’s the clearest sign yet that their relationship has moved beyond a family reconciliation and into a professional partnership again.
A Different Kind of Partnership
Charles’ role goes beyond watching Gabriel surf or offering support from the beach. He’s once again involved in the details of the work, particularly discussions about boards and the adjustments Gabriel needs to make for his heats.
The arrangement is collaborative. Charles has become a bigger part of Gabriel’s day-to-day routine, making it easier for them to discuss his preparation and approach to heats, while ADS remains involved in the decisions.
In Portugal, that closeness was visible away from the water, too. While Adriano stayed in a house with his family, Gabriel and Charles shared a hotel room.
Charles, who Gabriel considers a true father, has known the three-time world champion since he was a child. He understands his surfing, but he also knows his personality: when to push him, when to ease the pressure, and how to handle him when the tension builds.
People familiar with their dynamic describe Charles as a “source of energy and motivation for his children,” but also someone “who brings a sense of calm.” For Gabriel, having him around again means having someone he trusts, who knows him well and can help him navigate the pressure of competition, as well as the many opinions and suggestions that inevitably surround a world champion.
It’s not quite a return to the old setup, but it is a new chapter in their working relationship. And the timing is significant: with only two events left on the CT calendar, Medina is still in contention for a fourth world title. Seeing Charles celebrating every heat Gabriel wins at the Philippines Pro only reinforces what many had already suspected: their partnership is well and truly back.
From Reconciliation to Reunion
Gabriel and Charles began rebuilding their relationship around the 2024 Paris Olympics. Medina invited his stepfather to join his team for the competition at Teahupo’o, where he went on to win the bronze medal.
Their reunion in Tahiti was an important step, but it didn’t immediately lead to a return to working together. The two gradually rebuilt their family relationship while keeping their professional lives separate. This season, Charles began appearing more frequently alongside Gabriel, first at events where Sophia was also present, and now in a different role altogether.
Charles was alongside Gabriel for two of his three world titles. Now, as Medina makes another run at a championship, the two are finding their way back to working together, years after their professional relationship first came to an end.
