Gabriel Medina wanted to ride at Teahupo’o. And he would have been an instant favorite to win. Photo: WSL
Gabriel Medina was hoping to make his post-injury return to competition at the Tahiti Championship Tour stop in August, but the World Surf League (WSL) informed him that he would not receive one of the two event wildcards.
According to Globo, Medina officially “expressed his interest” to compete in Tahiti on May 21. The WSL responded that the two wildcards were already spoken for: one for Tahitian Olympic gold medalist Kauli Vaast, and the other for the winner of the local trials event.
“There are no wildcards available for Tahiti,” explained WSL deputy commissioner Renato Hickel. “They’ve already been awarded; one is for Kauli and the other is from the trial. What could happen with Gabriel is if there’s a replacement spot for an injured surfer. But for that to happen, someone has to get injured.”
Medina’s team informed Globo that he would not accept a last-minute injury replacement slot for the event. If this sentiment holds true, that means Medina will get his next chance to compete in a CT event when the 2026 season kicks off at Bells Beach in April.
After missing the entirety of the 2025 season due to the pectoral injury he suffered in January, that means Medina will have gone 18 months without competing in a CT event. His last event was the WSL Finals in September of 2024.
If a slot were to open, and Medina is inclined to accept it, he would immediately be one of the favorites. No one on tour has a track record like Medina in Tahiti. He has won the event twice, in 2014 and 2018, and finished runner-up four times. He also won the bronze medal at the 2024 Olympics in Tahiti.
“My goal is to win a fourth (world) title,” said Medina. “I plan to return next year, full force. It’ll be a different year; it’ll start in April with the new calendar and end in December in Hawaii, just like before. That was good news. I prefer the way it was before, with the overall points system. It’s going to be a very good year, and I have plenty of time to prepare, which keeps me motivated.”
Medina has won the WSL world title three times – in 2014, 2018, and 2021.
